Jim Crowley: “The Ayr Gold Cup is a race I’ve always wanted to win”
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Coral ambassador Jim Crowley previews his five rides at Ayr on Saturday
I start the day on the first of two rides I’ve picked up for the George Boughey team.
Koy Koy heads the market for this mile handicap, and I can see why after a good summer that has seen him win at Newmarket. He was third at Newbury last time, if I can get him to settle better here, there could be more improvement to come from this three-year-old, and if there is, it could get the day off to a winning start.
In the second I’m on Chichester, trained by a good mate of mine, Keith Dalgleish. He was a winner at this meeting 12 months ago, and ran here on Thursday, so if he’s come out of that run well I’m sure he’ll be lining up again.
He hasn’t shown much in his recent runs, so will need to bounce back to last season’s form, but given how well the trainer does at this course, that’s not impossible.
I’ve not ridden Roman Dragon before, but he was a winner at Chester in July, and has been running consistently all season.
Hugo [Palmer] likes him, and told my agent he’s a nice horse, so at an each-way price, hopefully he will be on the premises once again.
I’ve picked up a nice ride in this Group 3. Believing was second to a good horse of Godolphin’s [Mischief Magic] in the Sirenia last time, she was a big price that day and hopefully can take that form on to the turf here.
Her trainer, George Boughey, is having a great season, and while Queen Me sets a good standard on her York run, I think my filly has excellent place chances.
The Ayr Gold Cup is one of those races I’ve always wanted to win, and having not ridden in it that many times, it’s great to be on the favourite here. He has an excellent profile for a race like this, and is one of the few unexposed runners in it, and comes here off the back of a good win at Haydock.
I suppose his lack of experience in these big sprint handicaps could be a negative, is he going to be streetwise enough for this, but this is the right race for him, he gets in off a nice weight, and the ground will be fine.
We’re drawn in five, so hopefully there will be plenty of pace around us, as the slow early pace at Haydock didn’t suit him. In time I can see him staying seven furlongs, so in a strongly-run six he should be seen to good effect. We are favourite for a reason, it would be very special if he can live up to that.
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