A full field of 25 has been easily met for the 2024 running of the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday, 21st September in Scotland. The race is a 6f handicap, making it a dash from start to finish, as well as a devilishly difficult puzzle to solve for punters, even though four favourites have been victorious since 2015.
There will be a new name on the honours board this time around with no former winners declared. However, the last two runners-up will be in attendance, with Commanche Falls and Ramazan both declared. The former is now a seven-year-old but continues to compete off a high mark, though 107 is 2lb lower than that off which he was second in 2022. Ramazan meanwhile has been a cliff horse for many, finishing second on four more occasions since runner-up here last year without yet getting his head in front.
Other names to have claimed big name handicaps in recent times include Rohaan, a two-time Royal Ascot hero, Northern Express, who won the 7f International Stakes at Ascot last time out and Dare To Hope, who took the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon in August. The likes of Billyjoh and Mostabshir have also gone close in similar contests.
Towards the foot of the weights, both Sergeant Wilko and Tinto won last time out to get penalties and make up the field of 25. Within that number, Scottish trainers are not hugely represented, though Jim Goldie’s pair of American Affair and Jordan Electrics are both well fancied in the bid to keep the trophy on home soil.
Ayr Gold Cup 2024 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Commanche Falls | Michael Dods |
| 2 | Northern Express | Michael Dods |
| 3 | Ramazan | Richard Fahey |
| 4 | Korker | Karl Burke |
| 5 | Orazio | Charles Hills |
| 6 | Room Service | Kevin Ryan |
| 7 | Lethal Levi | Karl Burke |
| 8 | Jordan Electrics | Jim Goldie |
| 9 | Mostabshir | John & Thady Gosden |
| 10 | Silky Wilkie | Karl Burke |
| 11 | Fivethousandtoone | Andrew Balding |
| 12 | Coachello | Mark Loughnane |
| 13 | Pilgrim | David & Nicola Barron |
| 14 | Glenfinnan | Michael Dods |
| 15 | Aleezdancer | Kevin Ryan |
| 16 | American Affair | Jim Goldie |
| 17 | Rohaan | David Evans |
| 18 | Billyjoh | Mick Appleby |
| 19 | Aramis Grey | Rae Guest |
| 20 | Dare To Hope | Richard Fahey |
| 21 | Jehangeer | Kevin Ryan |
| 22 | King’s Lynn | Andrew Balding |
| 23 | Sergeant Wilko | Kevin Ryan |
| 24 | Strike Red | Richard Fahey |
| 25 | Tinto | Michael Dods |