Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style

Almeric put a 158-day absence behind him as he originated from last to very first to easily land the Ladbrokes "Big Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup Stakes at Ayr.


Caviar Heights set the early pace in the Listed occasion with King's Gambit keeping tabs on him two lengths in defaults with champ jockey Oisin Murphy happy to drop the Andrew Balding-trained Almeric in at the rear of the field.


Caviar Heights compromised as the race got in the last furlong and a half and Murphy timed his difficulty to perfection and as soon as he asked the concern, Almeric moved to the front of the field as the 13-8 favourite won for the 3rd time in four starts, two and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.


Murphy informed ITV: "He's undoubtedly a bit ring rusty due to the fact that he's been off the track for a while but he came into the race perfectly but then he most likely got to the front a little bit earlier than perfect.


"Obviously with the time off the track he need to be sharper on his next start.


"We have actually constantly enjoyed him he's the most beautiful model.


Almeric wins the Doonside Cup at Ayr (Steve Welsh/PA)


"He's practically got an ideal record having actually won his last 3 starts and he ran well on debut. When you make racehorses this is what they are supposed to appear like."


The Richard Spencer-trained Candy made all to win the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup.


The field split coming out of the stalls with the George Wood-ridden Candy striking the front on the near side, with his primary competitors battling it out on the far side of the course.


Sondad was overcoming Eye Of Dubai entering the final half furlong, but Wood was constantly in command and the 8-1 saw off Sondad by one and three-quarter lengths.


Spencer stated: "It's excellent, George gets on really well with him, the ground is the key too him. He appears to it and has a high travelling speed and simply keeps it going. I'm absolutely delighted. Hopefully we'll be coming back here next year for the big one."


Owner Phil Cunningham included: "It's the sort of horse, particularly in a field like that, that he's not too hard to spot. You understand how's he going to run. He's going to come off the front and what a significant training efficiency. It was incredible, definitely amazing."


Thunder Roar struck the front a furlong from home and hung on to win the Ladbrokes "Free Bet At Ayr" Handicap, while the Richard Hughes-trained Nobody Knows got up to win the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes to offer Murphy a double.