I was considering previewing the opening day of the Western meeting at Ayr but a quick glance at the card suggests winners are going to be hard to come by. There are no less than six fiendishly difficult handicaps on Thursday’s card and that may be the pattern for the rest of the week. There are no less than 200 horses left in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday, admittedly many of them hoping to get into the Silver or Bronze Cup.
The race that interests me is the two-year-old maiden at 2.50 at Yarmouth. Luca Cumani is not exactly well-known for his precocious youngsters and Mount Logan is certainly not that. He has had just one outing to date, finishing fourth in the maiden at Newbury won by John Gosden’s Muwaary. The form of the race has not exactly churned out winner after winner but Tuesday’s winner Ghaawy was well behind him that day.
He was ridden by Kirsty Milczarek and sent off at 25-1, suggesting that not a lot was expected of him on his debut. The chestnut settled nicely in rear and made eye-catching late progress to snatch fourth on the line. That race was over seven furlongs and there’s every reason to believe that the mile at Yarmouth will bring about further improvement.
The twin dangers carry the all blue of Godolphin. Istikshaf also showed promise on his debut when staying on into fifth place at Newmarket. That race was won by 33-1 shot Learaig and the form is no more inspiring than the Newbury race. I just prefer the effort of the Cumani horse who should also benefit from the stronger handling of Ryan Moore.
The unknown quantity is Charlie Appleby’s Deadly Approach for whom Kieren Fallon has been booked. As his name suggests, he is by New Approach but I note that he is fitted with a hood for his taste of racecourse action. I cannot say that I have noticed that very often with any two-year-olds, let alone Godolphin. Grand Meister and Latin Charm are also unraced but come from stables not particularly noted for first-time-out winners.
Mount Logan
