Brando strikes Gold at Ayr

OWNER Angie Bailey's insistence on trainer Kevin Ryan choosing stall eight for Brando proved right as her talented sprinter shot away to land the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup.

Ryan was relieved that number was still available when Brando's name came out at the draw ceremony on Thursday as the North Yorkshire handler celebrated a fourth win in the race after Advanced (2007), Our Jonathan (2011) and Captain Ramius (2012).

The writing was on the wall a furlong out as Tom Eaves asked Brando (11-1) to go and show his class.

Joint-top weight of 9st 10lb proved no burden to the four-year-old, who went to collect this prestigious prize by a length and a quarter from the 4-1 favourite Growl.

Hoof It (16-1) was another three-quarters of a length away in third, with G Force (10-1) fourth.

Ryan said: "It's very special for the owners.

"They've been coming here for years and are great friends of mine and Angie has always wanted to win this race.

"Angie said to draw stall eight if his name comes out early enough. She picked the stall.

"I always like to go middle to far side and all horses came out early enough for me to do that, so it's worked out."

Eaves, who also won the opening one-mile nursery aboard Now Children, added: "He was the class horse in the race, but he needed a bit of luck.

"It all worked out lovely and it's great to ride the Ayr Gold Cup winner.

"It's the big handicap we want to win up here. Owner Angie picked the stall there, so brilliant."

Brando was roundly cut in price to around the 12-1 mark about winning the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

Stall eight was also the place to be in the William Hill Ayr Silver Cup as Roudee (20-1) came through strongly to strike under Richard Kingscote.

Having won the consolation race for the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month, Tom Dascombe's sprinter repeated the trick in Scotland as he got home by half a length from Get Knotted.

Dascombe said: "It's fantastic. He's always been a lovely horse.

"He used to be a crazy horse but he's hardly broken sweat."

Delectation (11-1) came from last to first to run out an impressive winner of the William Hill Firth of Clyde Stakes.

The Bryan Smart-trained filly took the step up from a Thirsk maiden to a Group Three in her stride as she destroyed the opposition.

Last out of the stalls, Delectation (11-1) was switched by Paul Mulrennan towards the far side and she fairly flew home to win by two and three-quarter lengths from Rosebride.

Smart, winning this race for a third time, said: "I was a little bit worried about the ground.

"She had worked really well at home. She's a home-bred filly and the idea was to take her to Australia.

"I'm hoping they will leave her with me now and let me train her for the Guineas now as I think she will get the trip.

"I was a bit worried when Paul was really last but I knew he wanted to go across because we were on the wrong wing, but everything went to plan and she did it well."