Can course-and-distance winner Aviemore follow up last week's Chester romp in Ayr's feature handicap?

Aviemore: won at this track and trip in JulyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Many of these ran in different races at York’s Ebor meeting and that is where the best clues for this contest can be gathered.

Have Secret (sixth), Bystander (ninth), Oviedo (11th) and Marhaba The Champ (12th) met in the 1m2½f handicap won by Sir Busker.

Dark Moon Rising is dropping in trip after running third in the 1m4f handicap the previous day on the Knavesmire, while Bennetot goes the other way having contested the mile handicap earlier that week.

Of the four representing the 1m2½f handicap form, Oviedo might be the most interesting. Those racing on the far side that day were at a big advantage and nobody mounted their challenge wider than Oviedo did in the straight.

It is almost a year since the topweight finished fourth in the Cambridgeshire from stall one, when high numbers were favoured, and off a 3lb lower mark in a weaker race, possesses the talent to win this if a first-time visor can galvanise him.

Bennetot is another who is attractively handicapped, for all he has a bit to prove over an extra two furlongs.

He fared best of the held-up runners in his race at York and bettered that form when an excellent third on much softer ground at Ascot behind two mudlovers, racing away from them. Faster conditions give Bennetot better prospects of getting home.

Aviemore, a likely pace angle, arrives in top form, but he has more on his plate under a penalty after getting an easy time of things up front in a lesser race at Chester last week.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Going update

The going for the opening day of Ayr's three-day Gold Cup meeting on Thursday is good. Clerk of the course Graeme Anderson said on Wednesday: "We've had no rain overnight and a dry forecast through to the end of the week, with highs of 20-21C."

What they say

Ed Bethell, trainer of Oviedo
It looks like he's in calmer waters than what he's been running in. I've put some headgear on him to help him concentrate a little bit, but he seems to be training well. He's been a great team member for us and has won some big races, but we're under no illusions that it's going to be difficult.

Ed Bethell: trains OviedoCredit: Edward Whitaker

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Marhaba The Champ and Dark Moon Rising
Marhaba The Champ has been a little bit unfortunate this year ground wise. He really enjoys nice, quick ground so the weather looks very favourable for him. He had a very good season last year and has come down to a winnable mark here. He ran a big race at York last time, when he just got into a little bit of trouble when he was coming for his run. Dark Moon Rising has really hit top form in his last few runs. He ran a huge race at York and the drop back down to a mile-two shouldn't be an issue.

Charlie Johnston, trainer of Aviemore
He was very impressive at Chester last week. I think the handicapper has been a bit harsh in his assessment of that. Yes he won by four and quarter lengths, but it was very testing ground so I wasn't really expecting him to get put up 8lb for it. We're up in the weights and into a better race, but he's improving, in good form and we know he acts over this course and distance.
Reporting by Charlie Huggins