'He looks an ideal type for this sort of race' - trainers on their Ayr Gold Cup contenders

There is little doubt dual Wokingham winner Rohaan goes to Ayr as one of the best handicapped – if not the best – in the £180,000 showpiece.

The David Evans-trained six-year-old, who finished a close seventh to Significantly last year off an official mark of 104, is now 8lb lower.

He would have been meeting Significantly on 17lb better terms if Julie Camacho's gelding had come here rather than head to Newbury for the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy.

Evans believes he has Rohaan, a ten-time scorer who has tasted success in Group 2 and 3 company, in top shape for Ayr and expects him to run a mighty race off his attractive mark.

"If the draw is in his favour at Ayr he'll have every chance of winning," said the trainer. "He's had his share of problems over the last two years, but he goes to Ayr in very good order. I still think he's as good as ever and I'm very happy with him.

"He ran very well in the race last year and I was pleased with his performance in the Stewards' Cup when he was drawn on the wrong side. Goodwood probably wouldn't be his favourite track."

Evans added: "They went no pace at Ascot last time on very soft ground – in fact, they crawled – and he did really well to get as close as he did. It was a good prep run for Ayr. The faster ground won’t bother him."

Ryan four-handed in bid for sixth Ayr Gold Cup

Ayr Gold Cup king Kevin Ryan is four-handed as he bids for a sixth victory in the historic sprint handicap.

Progressive three-year-old Sergeant Wilko, who creeps in towards the foot of the weights, was proving most popular with punters on the eve of the contest, with Room Service, Jehangeer and Aleezdancer making up a strong team.

Sergeant Wilko, winner of his last three races at Leicester, Newmarket and Goodwood, has been raised only a total of 12lb for those triumphs and could still be a step ahead of the handicapper, while Jehangeer is lightly raced and open to further improvement.

Adam Ryan, assistant to his father, said: "Sergeant Wilko has improved hand over fist this year and is a tough, gutsy three-year-old who comes here in great order.

"Jehangeer won well at Thirsk three runs ago and has a bit of quality about him."

Room Service, who went down the Classic trial route at the beginning of the season by contesting the Group 3 Greenham Stakes, has undergone wind surgery since winning over six furlongs at Pontefract in July. Connections have carefully protected his mark for this race ever since.

"We tried Room Service in the Greenham and he probably didn't quite stay seven furlongs," said Ryan.

"He looks an ideal type for this sort of race and won well at Pontefract. He went up to 105 and we couldn't risk him winning again before here."

The likelihood of the ground drying out further is a definite negative for Aleezdancer, who prefers the mud.

"With cut in the ground Aleezdancer is a very good horse, but the weather doesn't look great for him," said Ryan.

'We've freshened up Billyjoh since York'

Mick Appleby has enjoyed plenty of success with his sprinters this season, including the Group 2 King George Stakes winner Big Evs at Glorious Goodwood, and the trainer expects Billyjoh to bounce back from a below-par performance at York last time.

Prior to disappointing on the Knavesmire, Billyjoh had run two excellent races at Goodwood, including when third behind Get It in the Stewards' Cup.

Appleby said: "It's a tough race, as always, but Billyjoh is in good order. The ground and track should both suit him well. He ran two fine races at Goodwood, but was below his best at York. Nothing came to light afterwards."

He added: "Perhaps that race just came too soon for him. We've freshened him up since York."

What they say

Michael Dods, trainer of Commanche Falls, Northern Express, Glenfinnan and Tinto
Commanche Falls is in good form. It's not easy from the top of the handicap in races like this, but I'm sure he'll run well. The question is whether he's too high in the weights. Northern Express gets seven furlongs well. I feel that you need a horse who stays well for an Ayr Gold Cup and he clearly does. He's at the top of the handicap too, which isn't ideal. Glenfinnan ran well when fifth in the Wokingham over a stiff six and he won over seven furlongs last time. If the flat track suits him, he'll run well. I had hoped Tinto would get into the Silver Cup. He's well, but this might prove a tall order for him.

Karl Burke, trainer of Korker, Lethal Levi and Silky Wilkie
Korker is in great form. If he reproduces his last run he'll go well. Lethal Levi has also been running consistently well. If he gets it right at the start he should run his race. Silky Wilkie is well handicapped on his best form but would probably need a career-best.

Charlie Hills, trainer of Orazio
The ground went against him, so he didn't run at Doncaster last weekend. I've been very happy with the way he has been training over the last two weeks. The favourite, American Affair, is drawn next to us but I'd prefer to be drawn nearer to the middle.

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Shadwell Estates, owners of Mostabshir
Jim Crowley is happy with his draw, which is in the middle, and if he turns up in the sort of form he was in at Goodwood he could run a big race. He'll like the ground as all of the family are top-of-the-ground horses.

Read the rest of our Saturday previews:

1.30 Newbury: 'She would have a decent chance in a competitive race' - analysis and quotes for a tricky World Trophy sprint

2.25 Ayr: Can flying filly Alfa Kellenic complete a six-timer? Analysis and quotes for Silver Cup cavalry charge

3.00 Ayr: 'She's very interesting back against her own sex and up to six furlongs' - analysis and quotes for the Group 3 Firth of Clyde

3.15 Newbury: 'We'll find out how good he is' - can impressive debut winner Powerful Glory follow up in the Mill Reef?

4.01 Gowran Park: 'The pick of her form would make her hard to beat' - Joseph O'Brien runs six in bid for repeat success