AYR 15:35

All 25 ran.

Time: 1m 12.52s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37s (98%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 146%, Betfair SP 102.5%

The field was spread across the track from an early stage in this year's Ayr Gold Cup, those drawn high shunning the near rail but 3 clear groups of varying sizes emerged, the 9 towards the far side clearly in pole position from some way out, Run Boy Run finally managing to win a big one to go with his fourths in the Stewards' Cup and Portland earlier in the season and completing a notable double for connections who also bagged the Silver Cup an hour earlier but, as in the Bronze Cup 24 hrs previously, it's one from the disadvantaged side that arguably deserves most credit, Jubilee Walk doing very well to get involved from his position in the centre.

RUN BOY RUN has tended to give his running this season, usually having an excuse when he hasn't, but the stars aligned on this occasion as he produced a career-best effort having been kept to heritage handicaps on his 5 previous starts; led, went with zest, pushed along 2f out, joined over 1f out, edged ahead again only late on.

DESERT FALCON (IRE) needed the penalty he picked up at Doncaster last weekend to make the cut and all but followed up with another career-best and is in the mould of the stable's Bronze Cup winner the day before in that his form has gone from strength to strength this term; chased leaders, driven over 2f out, upsides over 1f out, edged out only late on; this was his first time on turf with any cut in the ground and he clearly handled it well.

JUBILEE WALK had seen his Ascot second boosted by the third and fourth in the Silver version an hour earlier and showed himself to still be in top form, every reason to think he'd probably have got past the first 2 had he been in a position to race closer to them and there's evidently a good prize in him when things go more his way; close up in disadvantaged group, travelled well, pushed along 2f out, finished well but left with too much ground to make up.

PUROSANGUE was backed into favouritism with conditions having come in his favour but he could run to just a similar level to last time despite the addition of first-time cheekpieces and a seemingly ideal track position; mid-field, headway over 2f out, stayed on.

HAMMER THE HAMMER (IRE) had been a disappointing favourite in the Stewards' Cup, but wasted no time getting back to form, proving himself on testing ground for the first time; chased leader, ridden over 2f out, ran on; he's going to be a fixture in races like this next season, while he still retains the potential to graduate out of them.

NORTHERN TICKER (IRE) remains an unexposed sprinter to keep on the right side of, not least with his mark set to be lower next time given he was 2 lb 'wrong' under a penalty and did well under the circumstances given where he raced; slowly away, chased leaders in disadvantaged group, travelled well, pushed along over 2f out, edged left, kept on but little chance of impacting the finish from his position.

ARAMRAM (IRE) was runner-up in the Silver version last year from 14 lb lower, that a clear indicator of the progress he's made since and he remains in good form, doing all he could from a less-than-ideal position; raced centre, mid-field, ridden 2f out, stayed on.

BADRI is perhaps a bit too exposed for races as strong as this these days but he fared better than on his last 2 starts, having had the advantage of being on the right side; mid-field, pushed along around halfway, one paced.

SOLAR ACLAIM (IRE) was back on softer ground but still could run to just a similar level to last time; dwelt, mid-field, travelled well, pushed along 2f out, weakened final 1f; he handles it when it's even more testing which needs bearing in mind for later in the autumn.

TWO TRIBES has already shown what he can do in other top tier events this year and is better judged on those given he raced in the disadvantaged group; awkward start, mid-field, pushed along soon after halfway, kept on.

JORDAN ELECTRICS is best excused this run too, not seen to best effect in a valuable event for the second week running; raced centre, close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final 1f.

COMMANCHE FALLS ran about as well as could be expected given where he raced, typically taking his time to warm up; mid-field, pushed along approaching halfway, stayed on.

KODI LION (IRE) looked back in form, but had little chance with how the race panned out; chased leaders, pushed along halfway, not quicken, not unduly punished.

TWILIGHT CALLS has been more miss than hit this term, and his Stewards' Cup effort has proven a false dawn; held up, pushed along over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, not quicken.

MILFORD has got some strong form in 3-y-o only company and neither outing in valuable company on his last 2 starts has done him justice, in first-time cheekpieces this time; raced centre, close up, pushed along over 2f out, struggling when hampered 1f out, eased.

FLASH HARRY underperformed on softer ground than previously but was up against it given where he raced anyway; led group, headed around halfway, weakened over 1f out.

ALFA KELLENIC won the Silver Cup for Craig Lister in 2024, but things cannot have been straightforward this time given she'd been off for 11 months and she had little chance from her position; held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on, finished with running left.

TOYOTOMI (FR) has yet to make much impact in Britain, this his handicap debut; held up, pushed along over 2f out, no response.

FAHRENHEIT SEVEN is best forgiven this first outing for a new stable after 4 months off (left Mark Usher 82,000 gns) given his track position; raced centre, mid-field, ridden over 2f out, weakened final 1f.

GO ATHLETICO (FR) was soon up against it given his draw; held up, pushed along over 2f out, made no impression.

AIN'T NOBODY (IRE) was obliged to have a go at this early closer with the handicapper raising him 13 lb for his Nunthorpe second and, though it's still too soon to be suggesting it's flattering, it's very likely dependent on circumstances and conditions in stark contrast to what he faced here; slowly away, raced off the pace, struggling before halfway, eased inside final 1f.

STRIKE RED (IRE) has never managed to put it all together at this meeting, so this shouldn't be held against him with a view to recapturing his best at York next month; held up, pushed along over 2f out, never involved.

BERGERAC (IRE) looked beaten after less than 1f given his track position and was always behind.

SEVEN QUESTIONS (IRE) was scuppered by the draw for all he's not been in great form of late anyway; held up, pushed along halfway, never involved.

WE NEVER STOP (IRE) was always behind from a bad draw, but seems better on all-weather these days.