AYR 15:35 15w29

All 25 ran.

Time: 1m 7.75s Closing Sectional: (2f): 22.9s (98.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 139%, Betfair SP 99.2%

Not the strongest of Ayr Gold Cups in of the overall depth of form, even if the winner was able to lower the course record just over an hour on from the winner of the consolation Silver Cup having done likewise, the field racing in 3 groups with those on the far side coming off worst, that pretty much the opposite to how it had panned out in the earlier race, the winner always prominent in the group nearest the stand side, leading home a remarkable 1-2-3 for trainer Karl Burke, eclipsing the 1-2 he achieved when Always Alight beat Daring Destiny in 1998.

LETHAL LEVI produced a career best as he landed the biggest pot of his career to date, things panning out ideally for him just as they had at Newbury, though he didn't need to battle in the latter stages this time, powering right away once asked over this shorter trip; raced stand side, disputed lead, made all, ridden over 1f out, forged clear; he's fully effective at 7f but picks up a penalty in the Challenge Cup at Ascot, and pulling off similar tactics there tends to prove more troublesome.

SILKY WILKIE (IRE) sent off a huge price given how he'd shaped in the Portland (big late move for low draws), nevertheless ran a cracker in first-time visor, the only one to serve it up to the winner in any way, though it remains the case that 6f seems to stretch him a little, even faced with such speed-favouring conditions as these; raced centre, close up, travelled well, challenged over 2f out, left behind by winner final 1f.

KORKER (IRE) has mixed competitive handicaps and listed events to good effect of late, though it continues to prove the case that he's rather hard to win with, going about this in typical fashion, never nearer having sacrificed a little ground at the start; dwelt, raced stand side, waited with, headway over 1f out, kept on, never a threat.

ARAMIS GREY (IRE) a most consistent mare despite an ever-lengthening losing run, typically gave her all; raced centre, waited with, travelled well, steady headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on.

JORDAN ELECTRICS has had an incredible season for a sprinter his age, going up over 2 stone in the handicap while picking up 7 victories, and gave his running once more stepped back up to 6f, needing no excuses; raced centre, led group, pushed along 2f out, one paced.

COMMANCHE FALLS a runner-up in the race from a higher mark 2 years earlier, wasted no time getting back on track stepped back up to 6f, 'winning' the race on his side; raced far side, prominent, effort 2f out, one paced.

MOSTABSHIR shaped as if still in good form but is most likely better over further, especially in such speed-favouring conditions, better placed than most but lacking the outright speed to truly threaten; raced centre, chased leaders, took keen hold, effort 2f out, one paced.

NORTHERN EXPRESS (IRE) found the test too sharp, just as he had when tried in the race last year but shaped well enough to suggest he'll be of interest back up at 7f in the Challenge Cup at Ascot next time, a C&D winner there last time; raced stand side, prominent, outpaced halfway, hung left over 1f out, rallied last ½f.

DARE TO HOPE (IRE) adopted his usual tactics having made the running last time but fared little better, probably just not quite up to this level, the Great St WIlfrid he won not a vintage renewal; raced centre, in touch, ridden over 1f out, one paced.

STRIKE RED (IRE) has shaped better than the result on both starts since his York second, on the same mark here and holding every chance going into the final 1f, ending up furthest away from where the principals made their efforts; raced far side, prominent, effort under 2f out, third 1f out, no extra final 100 yds.

ROOM SERVICE (IRE) who'd had a breathing operation since his Pontefract success 10 weeks earlier, ran respectably on form but seemed to find the emphasis too much on speed on this much firmer ground, the Challenge Cup at Ascot in a couple of weeks striking as a race in which he'll be seen to greater effect; raced stand side, raced off the pace, ridden when hung left over 1f out, kept on, never a threat.

BILLYJOH weak in the betting after a rare flop last time, nevertheless shaped as though quickly back to the top of his game, just finding the gaps not opening up for him at a crucial stage, finishing to typical effect once in the clear; raced centre, raced off the pace, headway when not clear run over 1f out, kept on last ½f, never nearer.

RAMAZAN (IRE) second in the race last year and arriving on the back of an excellent run in the Great St Wilfrid, wasn't seen to best effect but failed to meet expectations even so, some of the trouble met essentially of his own doing; raced centre, mid-division, effort when hung left over 1f out, not clear run after, keeping on when short of room again well inside final 1f.

KING'S LYNN has proved most consistent this season and probably remains in form, not ideally drawn as it went and seeming to find the pace a little too hot to handle in speed-favouring conditions; raced far side, prominent, pushed along over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, plugged on.

COACHELLO (FR) hasn't built upon his encouraging debut for the yard at Royal Ascot and probably needs his sights lowering, a good all-weather record meaning he'll be one to keep an eye on over the winter if kept on the go; raced centre, in touch, pushed along over 2f out, lost place gradually.

AMERICAN AFFAIR has had a terrific season, progressive throughout while picking up 3 wins and understandably sent off favourite here on the back of his win in the Portland, and is perhaps worth giving a for this for all he was unlikely to have played a hand in the finish even with a clearer run, not ideally drawn as it went and racing too freely with his improvement this year having come at shorter; steadied at the start, raced far side, waited with, took strong hold, headway when not clear run approaching final 1f, never landed a blow.

PILGRIM easy to back, was below form with excuses not so easy to come by as they had been at York; raced stand side, chased leaders, ridden when hung left over 1f out, weakened final 1f.

TINTO just snuck in at the bottom of the weights penalised for his win last time but seemed to find the competition too hot in this grade, the form of his success at Thirsk not proving strong, not ideally drawn here, either; dwelt, raced far side, raced well off the pace, ridden when edged right over 1f out, never landed a blow.

ROHAAN (IRE) looked to have plenty in his favour, well treated and arriving on the back of an eye-catching run at Ascot but proved to be a disappointment, more to it than track position alone; raced far side, in rear, held when hampered over 1f out, never on ; he's got a good record at Ascot and will be worth another chance if turning up there next time in the race he won last year.

ALEEZDANCER (IRE) has always been rather hit-and-miss and never looked likely to get involved having raced in the 'wrong' group after 4 months off; raced far side, raced off the pace, pushed along over 2f out, made no impression.

FIVETHOUSANDTOONE (IRE) was back at his optimum trip but fared no better, albeit having seemingly raced on the 'wrong' side; raced far side, mid-division, weakened 2f out.

SERGEANT WILKO (IRE) has had an excellent season and went well for a long way on seemingly the 'wrong' part of the track, but dropped away a little too tamely for comfort; raced far side, led group, weakened over 1f out.

JEHANGEER (IRE) again ran below form, his win at Thirsk very much a standout for the year; raced far side, raced off the pace, made no impression.

ORAZIO (IRE) was back sprinting but again dropped away all too tamely and looks one with problems suddenly; raced far side, mid-division, weakened 2f out.

GLENFINNAN (IRE) is struggling for consistency this year, back down in trip but again plenty keen enough; raced far side, mid-division, raced freely, weakened 2f out.