Top Races - Ayr Racecourse - Scotland’s Premier Racecourse, home to the Scottish Grand National and Ayr Gold Cup.

Proud to host Scotland’s top races

Ayr Racecourse is not only home to Scotland’s two biggest Festivals – the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival and the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival – but also hosts all of Scotland’s top races including its only Group race and several Listed races. There are many outstanding contests throughout the year at Ayr under both codes – jumps and Flat.

The highlight of the jumps season is the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival with the feature the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The latest renewal of this historic steeplechase was won, for the second year running, by Irish trainer Willie Mullins with the Harry Cobden ridden Captain Cody and the trainer made it a famous 1-2 in the race with the previous year’s 4th placed horse Klarc Kent finishing second under Johnny Burke.

Another huge crowd was in attendance here at Ayr on the big day and, as usual, there was a huge TV audience on ITV Racing which always puts on a massive show around a race which is the 4th biggest in the country for betting turnover.

Also on the Scottish Grand National Saturday card is the £100,000 Scottish Champion Hurdle which was won in 2025 by the previous year’s third-placed horse Cracking Rhapsody, a dual Morebattle Hurdle winner at Kelso which is trained by Ewan Whillans.

Scotland’s biggest and most valuable Flat meeting is the 3-day Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival which is run in September and the 2025 meeting saw a notable Gold and Silver Cup double for owner Phil Cunningham, trainer Richard Spencer and jockey George Wood, the trio landing the £180,000 Ayr Gold Cup with Run Boy Run after winning the Ayr Silver Cup earlier on the card with Candy.

The unique nature and popularity of the historic Ayr Gold Cup means we not only run a Silver Cup on the Saturday, but also a Bronze Cup which is run on the middle day of the meeting on the Friday and the huge entry numbers for the most prestigious sprint handicap in Europe continue to justify running the extra two races.

Success for Run Boy Run and Candy in the Gold and Silver Cups was another major racing news story after Karl Burke’s achievement in 2024 saddling the first THREE home in the Gold Cup, but the search for another Scottish trained Gold Cup winner will now stretch 51 years and on to 2026 after Roman Warrior continues to be the last Scottish trained winner back in 1975.

Ayr Racecourse Top Races

Explore some of our top races below

The Ladbrokes Kilkerran Cup Handicap (Class 2)

One of the longest contested trophies at the track. The Class 2 1m 2f is always a competitive race that has been won by top handicappers over the years.

The Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap)

The Ayr Gold Cup is the most famous and richest Flat race run in Scotland and a tremendous spectacle to watch with up to 25 runners fanned across the track and speeding down the six furlong home straight at Ayr.

The Ladbrokes Doonside Cup (Class 1) (Listed Race)

This famous race run over 1m 2f is one of the best middle distance Listed races in the north and is always well contested by horses from some of the leading stables in the country.

The EBF British Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes (Class 1) (Listed Race)

A long standing Ayr highlight the Harry Rosebery Stakes is a five furlong dash for two year olds and is run on Ladies Day, the middle day of the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival.

The Arran Scottish Fillies Sprint Stakes (Class1) (Listed Race)

First introduced in 2018, this Listed five and a half furlong sprint has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival and like the Harry Rosebery Stakes is run on Ladies Day.

The Ladbrokes Firth Of Clyde Stakes (Class1) (Group 3)

This is Scotland’s only Group race and is run over the straight six furlongs for two year-old fillies and regularly attracts a good field of horses from some of the leading yards in the land.

Coral Scottish Grand National (Class1) (Grade 3)

The most prestigious race of the Scottish jumps calendar and one that is without doubt one of the very best long distance chases in the world.

CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (Class 2)

Introduced in 2018 this valuable race is now very much part and parcel of Coral Scottish Grand National Saturday.

Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (Class1) (Grade2)

The main supporting race on the card to the Coral Scottish Grand National this is one of the most exciting handicap hurdles in the racing calendar.

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (Class1)

Hillhouse Quarry are the longest running sponsors at Ayr Racecourse with their support of the track going back 30 years and this two and a half mile chase is the feature race on the Friday of the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.

Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Class1)

Scotty Brand are another longstanding sponsor at Ayr and company owner Ronnie Bartlett is a great supporter of the sport having owned some great horses over the years.

Unite The Union Winning For Members EBF Land O’ Burns Fillies Stakes (Class1) (Listed Race)

Traditionally this Listed contest is the fastest race run at Ayr and Look Busy holds the five furlong course record at the track with her 2008 win here with a time of 55.68 seconds.