Ayr preview: Ayr Bronze Cup (15.05)

The big betting race of the day is the Ayr Bronze Cup (15.05), and Fast Shot looks decent each-way value in a typically wide open an ultra-competitive renewal of the 6f handicap.

Trained by Tim Easterby, the gelding landed back-to-back handicaps in the spring of 2014 with the last of those successes coming at Ripon off a mark of 93.

Fast Shot went on to finish a cracking fifth of 27 to Louis The Pious in the Ayr Gold Cup over course and distance off a rating off 96, and also ran very well on seasonal reappearance at Newcastle when third of 16 to Arctic Feeling off 94.

The eight-year-old has failed to trouble the judge in six subsequent outings, but his handicap mark has plummeted as a result and the son of Fasliyev was far from disgraced last time out when ninth of 16 at Ripon and beaten just 2 1/2 lengths.

Fast Shot has since been dropped another 1lb and is now able to race off 84.

That is 9lb lower than when last successful and gives seven-year-old major claims from a handicapping perspective on the pick of his form.

Dragon King and Grissom come into the contest at the top of their game and look big dangers.

The former is trained by Michael Dods and looks nicely treated under a 5lb penalty after making all to readily land a decent handicap at Newmarket by 3 3/4 lengths when last seen in action 20 days ago.

Dragon King got the job done in good style and is an unexposed three-year-old who is clearly on an upward curve and should have plenty more to offer.

Grissom is a stable companion to Fast Shot and ended a long losing run in some style when bolting up by four lengths at Thirsk a fortnight ago.

The nine-year-old tanked along throughout in the hands of Rachel Richardson before quickening well to put the race to bed when produced to challenge at the furlong marker.

Although not the obvious type to follow-up given his profile, Grissom is well-suited big fields and is a strong travelling sort who is likely to be in the thick of things at the business end of affairs granted luck in-running.

Coral’s top tip: Fast Shot has slipped to a handy mark and looks decent each-way value in a very wide open renewal of the Ayr Bronze Cup