Ayr Racecourse is delighted to confirm a boost to the prize money for our Class 3 handicaps during the month of July and we’re hoping that owners and trainers will be encouraged to send horses to compete on some excellent racedays with varied supporting programmes during one of the busiest months of the year.

The races in question are as follows:
• Sun July 9 – 1 mile for 3yo+ (71-90) NOW £20,000
• Mon July 10 – 6 furlongs for 3yo+ (71-90) NOW £20,000
• Mon July 10 – 1 mile 5 furlongs for 4yo+ (76-95) NOW £20,000
• Mon July 17 – 6 furlongs for 3yo+ AYR GOLD CUP TRIAL (76-90) NOW £30,000
• Mon July 31 – 1 mile 2 furlongs for 3yo+ (71-90) NOW £20,000

All 5 races form parts of competitive, varied and well-structured cards during a month when Ayr races on 4 Mondays, the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st.

Ayr’s managing director David Brown said:
“We’re delighted to be boosting our prize money for Class 3 handicaps all the way through July with three £20,000 Class 3 races now scheduled for our 2-day meeting on July 9/10, the £30,000 Gold Cup Trial back on July 17 and a 5th £20,000 Class 3 handicap due to be run on our final meeting of the month on Monday July 31.

Next month will see the second running of the £30,000 Ayr Gold Cup Trial (July 17) and it was interesting that last year’s winner (Snash), second (Aberama Gold) and third (Bernardo O’Reilly) were all back to contest the Silver Cup in September, with Bernardo O’Reilly finishing third again and reversing the placings with the first two from the Trial.

Obviously, none of the first 3 made it into the Gold Cup line-up but the 71-90 handicap is an excellent chance for a progressive handicapper to collect a good prize and, at the same time,  boost their rating with a view to making the cut for the Gold Cup itself.”