Ayr Gold Cup Festival 2025: Ayr Gold Cup analysis and preview 

One of Europe’s most valuable sprint handicaps will take place this weekend, as the 2025 Ayr Gold Cup Festival gets underway. 

Three days of racing in Western Scotland, backed by the stunning coastlines of Ayrshire, is highlighted by the running of the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup. 

Six furlongs of Ayr’s straight-turf course awaits runners and riders looking to take home a share of around £200,000 in prize money. 

The betting is wide open for this year’s renewal, with Aint Nobody currently trading as the 7/1 favourite, followed by co-second favourites in the shape of Almeraq, Elmonjed and Northern Ticker. 

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Aint Nobody

It has been a busy campaign for the ante-post favourite, who is winless since his second start last season, which came in a Listed race at Ascot. 

He finished outside the placings in all but two of his nine runs since, though the Ayr Gold Cup would represent a drop in Grade from the Group races in which he has been tried in. 

The pick of his form, from seven races this season, is a second-placed effort in the (Group One) Nunthope Stakes, at York’s Ebor Festival, two runs ago. 

Speaking after that run and prior to a heavy defeat in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, assistant trainer of Ain’t Nobody, Adam Ryan, said: “Ain’t Nobody’s run at York was a nice surprise but it wasn’t a shock to us as he’s been running consistently all year. 

“He finished very strongly there and the step back up to six furlongs shouldn’t be a problem.”

Almeraq and Elmonjed

The next three in the market all trade at 8/1, with Almeraq and Elmonjed both potential representatives of 2020 winning trainer William Haggas and owners Shadwell Estate. 

The former hadn’t finished outside the first two in all four of his career starts (all this season and winning twice) before being involved in a freak accident, on his latest outing, in a Listed Race won by Elmonjed. 

It was an accident that left jockey Jim Crowley hospitalised, after suffering fractures to his pelvis and leg, whilst fellow jockey Trevor Whelan sustained an ankle fracture. 

Elmonjed, meanwhile, prior to that win had been plying his trade in handicaps – boasting a solid record. 

He ended last season with back-to-back (Class Two) Handicap wins at Windsor and York, before finishing fourth in his first two runs this season. 

A heavy defeat at Goodwood is flanked either side by a second-placed effort in Listed race at Newmarket’s July meeting (won by last year’s Ayr Gold Cup winner Lethal Levi) and a win in (Class Two) Handicap at York’s Ebor meeting.

Northern Ticker

Northern Ticker is the other in at 8/1, after winning on the latest start for trainer Michael Dods – which came in a 20-runner (Class Two) Handicap, at York. 

Two third-placed efforts bookended four runs last season, with the other two ending in victories.

The Gelding has improved on each of his three outings this year, having been heavily defeated on reappearance, before finishing fourth prior to his York success. 

A post on Dods’ facebook page read: “Northern Ticker is likely to go straight to the Ayr Gold Cup after his victory in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (Heritage Handicap) at York Races today.

“Northern Ticker, owned by The Sekura Group, won by a head from stablemate Commanche Falls.

“Michael said: “Both horses ran super – it’s just a shame one had to lose. They’re both ridden at home by Chloe – so she can say she’s had a 1-2 at York!”

Commanche Falls

Commanche Falls is also featured in the betting for the Ayr Gold Cup, at 16/1. 

Trainer Richard Spencer’s four-year-old gelding Two Tribes is next in the betting, after enjoying a season in which he has won two (Class Two) Handicaps, one at Royal Ascot.

Those efforts are sandwiched between two good runs in defeat, where he placed fourth and fourth, at Newmarket and York. 

He trades at 10/1, whilst Hammer The Hammer (14th in the Goodwood race won by Two Tribes) follows at 16’s and is another potential Kevin Ryan entrant.  

The unexposed three-year-old Flash Harry is worthy of a mention and he is the pick of seven horses trading at 20/1 in the ante-post market. 

READ MORE: Ayr Gold Cup Festival 2025: Dates, how to watch on TV, trainers and jockeys to watch