Class told in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup at Ayr
Racecourse on Saturday when the well gambled Our Jonathan won by a
very cosy two lengths from favourite Eton Rifles.
Ridden by Franny Norton, trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Dr
Marwan Koukash who also owns Redford who won the race last year the
11/1 shot was one of the easiest winners of the race with plenty in
hand of the others.
Named after the owner's brother in law's son who died playing
football at the age of 15 Our Jonathan was a really successful two
year old a couple of years back and returned to top form to stay on
strongly and turn over the 6/1 favourite.
Dr Koukash was unstinting in his praise for Our Jonathan and
said it didn't matter where you were drawn in the race. He said :
"We were drawn in the middle and could have gone either way and we
could have won it, he won it so easily.
"I am so glad I came up this year, I missed last year's so it is
great to be up here. Great course, great people, great result. We
left at six this morning to be here and I don't think we'll go back
till six o'clock tomorrow morning now."
Trainer Kevin Ryan added : "In the last ten days he has
really sparkled - it is difficult to be confident for the Ayr Gold
Cup but I felt he was just right today."
And a jubilant Franny Norton commented :"I was destined to win
this race - I was due to ride Redford last year and Bahamian Pirate
a few years ago who both won but today was the day for me."
More than 10,000 people enjoyed the racing on Saturday and
despite a poor forecast the weather held up remarkably well.
The William Ayr Silver Cup also produced a remarkable result
when the winner of last year's Bronze Cup, Cheveton won at 12/1
under Dale Swift for trainer Richard Price. The seven year old won
by half a length from Marvellous Value (20/1). Could it be a Gold
Cup win beckoning for Cheveton next year ?
Friday's William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup produced a 1-2 for trainer
Richard Fahey whjen Coolminx (Barry McHugh) beat Jeannie Galloway
(Paul Hanagan).
Other highlights during the week included a superb
performance from Poet, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam
Kirby to win the williamhill.com Doonside Cup at odds of 5/4 fav.
On Saturday and earlier the same afternoon Roger Sez (14/1)
annihilated the field in the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde
Stakes.
And although he didn't win the Gold Cup this time round David
Nicholls did land a trophy with the williamhill.com Ayrshire
Handicap going the way of Don't Call Me ridden by his son
Adrian and returned at 12/1.
Thursday's feature race, the williamhill.com Handicap for
ther Kilkerran Cup was won by Alistair Whillans Scrapper Smith in
the hands of Julie Burke while the BAM Properties Harry Rosebery
Stakes for the South Ayrshire Cup on Friday went the way of
Caledonia Lady (5/4 fav) ridden by Paul Hanagan for trainer Jo
Hughes.