Ayr Saturday

1.20 Ladbrokes Handicap 1m

McMurray is the most interesting runner here and comes in search of a five-timer. The market will indicate how ready he is after a lengthy break, but in the absence of late market clues, I think Pure Legend could outrun his odds back at a mile.

Winner of a seven-furlong handicap at Longchamp earlier in the season for Henri-Francois Devin, he was strongest at the finish when a close sixth in the Summer Cup at Thirsk on debut for Kevin Ryan. He was then unsuited by the drop to sprinting at York last month and should appreciate both ground and trip here.

Kevin Ryan’s strike rate has been modest in recent weeks, but a fair number of horses from the yard have won or been placed at big odds lately, with Inishbeg (won at 33/1), Showtown (second at 22/1) and Lucius Aurelius (third at 40/1) examples in the last few days.

1.55 Ladbrokes Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m 2f

Ecureuil Secret has a lengthy absence to overcome, but it’s encouraging that his best-ever effort came on his seasonal reappearance last year, when spreadeagling a field of useful handicappers over this trip at Epsom.

Rated 103 by the handicapper prior to that romp, it’s hard to deny that Ecureuil is a pattern-class performer, and he proved as much when third to Royal Champion and Almaqam (both Group 1 winners subsequently) in the SkyBet York Stakes last July, his most recent run.

Clearly, the five-year-old has had an issue or two that have kept him off the track this summer, but he’s demonstrated his ability to go well fresh before, scoring on debut for Edward O’Grady before moving to Musley Bank and defying a 228-day absence to land the Betftred Nifty 50 Handicap by four lengths on Oaks day last year.

Hopefully, he can show again that he takes little getting ready and has probably been waiting for easy ground in any case.

2.30 Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup Handicap 6f

I would expect those drawn high to be disadvantaged, for all a middle draw looks fine based on results here on similar ground, it would be no surprise to see the low-numbered stalls dominate here. That is bolstered by the fact that creditable contenders Goldmoyne and Station X are expected to be up there from flag-fall on the far side and that should be a help to the runners they can drag into the race.

One of those is Rapper’s Delight, who has caught the eye a couple of times this season and represents the Richard Spencer stable that has done so well in the big sprint handicaps in the last couple of seasons.

Rapper’s Delight is lightly raced for a handicap sprinter and ran his best race when just beaten by stablemate Twilight Calls at Newmarket in July. The winner was beaten only narrowly from a 7lb higher mark in the Portland at Doncaster recently and Rapper’s Delight is easily forgiven his latest effort over six furlongs at Goodwood when unsuited by having to lead a small group up the centre of the track.

It may be that he needs the shorter trip to be seen as he’s unproven on soft ground, but he is undoubtedly capable of winning a good handicap from his current mark and the booking of Saffie Osborne is a positive.

3.05 Ladbrokes Firth Of Clyde (Group 3) (Fillies) 6f

Angels Passing was far from disgraced in the Lowther Stakes last month, especially as that was her first start since June and just her third all told, and she is fancied to build on that now.

Thrown into the Listed Marygate Stakes at York on debut, she ran as well as could be expected and showed the benefit of that outing when running out the easy winner of a 30-runner maiden at Hamilton. She shaped a fair bit better than the bare result, when nine lengths adrift of Libertango in the Lowther, keeping on in the closing stages having initially had her run from the rear interrupted by traffic.

She will have learnt plenty from that outing given her lack of experience and a recent run going into York and is capable of surprising some better-fancied rivals here.

3.40 Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup 6f

I’m once again focusing on the low numbers here and expect Stratusnine to run a big race, having been in decent form through the summer. The key to his chances is an examination of the form of his win at York in July, when he gave weight and a beating to the likes of Coul Angel, Air Force One, Red Spells Danger and Addison Grey.

That quartet have all won competitive handicaps since and Stratusnine still looks fairly handicapped, having gone on to finish second in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

He’s not been beaten far, despite being drawn away from the main action in two subsequent runs at York, splitting Coul Angel and Air Force One when a close sixth after making much of the running there last month.

Hugo Palmer has booked the excellent Conor Whiteley to claim 5lb off Stratusnine’s back, and apprentices are no strangers to success in this race.

A trio of 5lb-claimers have been successful in the last 20 years, including a certain Oisin Murphy, and Whiteley has been gaining valuable experience in big-field handicaps this season for a number of trainers.

Newbury Saturday

1.02 Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3) 5f 34yd

It’s been a while since Starlust last entered the winners’ enclosure, but he did have a spell at stud since winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint a couple of years ago and he’s come right back to form on his last two starts, finishing second in the Nunthorpe and then fourth in the Flying Five last weekend. This represents a quick turnaround, but that is often a positive for sprinters and the son of Zoustar should be too strong for his rivals now dropped in class.

1.37 Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap 1m 5f 61yd

Followers of Circus Of Rome are a dwindling band after a series of unplaced efforts this season, but there have been excuses for Richard Hughes’s four-year-old and this test should prove ideal. Tried over inadequate trips on his first two starts this season, a gamble went awry in the Northumberland Plate in midsummer and he didn’t get the rub of the green under exaggerated waiting tactics in the Ebor last time.

A change of jockey may be no bad thing in that regard and, if Finley Marsh - who knows the horse well - can keep him closer to the pace here, then the four-year-old appeals as being capable of defying his current mark, accepting that the handicapper has not given him as much rope as he might have.

2.12 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) 6f

There is a slight worry that a longish season might catch up with Arapaho Gold, whose winning run began in May, but otherwise he makes plenty of appeal having progressed again to win the Gimcrack last time.

The only reason he’s running here rather than in the Group 1 Middle Park is the fact that geldings are not eligible to take part in that contest. Newmarket’s loss is Berkshire’s gain, however, and Michael Dodds can enjoy more big-race success with his immensely likeable son of Bayside Boy.

Recommended:

Pure Legend 1.20 Ayr - 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (general - 4 places)

Ecureuil Secret 1.55 Ayr - 1pt win @ 5/1 (general)

Rapper’s Delight 2.30 Ayr - 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1 (general - 6 places)

Stratusnine 3.40 Ayr - 1pt e/w @ 16/1 (general - 6 places)

Circus Of Rome 1.37 Newbury - 1pt e/w @ 22/1 (Bet365, 20/1 general - 4 places)