Angel Alexander

There is a chance that Angel Alexander will remain under-rated after winning the Ayr Gold Cup.

For starters, it was a really good performance by a three-year-old, to win an Ayr Gold Cup off a mark of 101. As well as that, he raced on the near side, at a meeting at which it appeared that it was not an advantage to race on the near side. Also, he raced in a group of six on the near side, with the other 18 horses going far side. He got a lead from Major Jumbo on the near side, but Richard Kingscote had to send him on on the run to the furlong marker, and he had nothing with which to race from there. He did well to keep on as well as he did to win the race, getting up to beat Growl and Gulliver by a half a length and the same. In so doing, he came over three lengths clear of the next best horse on the near side, Gunmetal, who finished only ninth overall.

It was a fine performance by Tom Dascombe’s horse, on ground that was thought to be faster than ideal for him. It was a career-best performance.

He is a nicely progressive three-year-old sprinter. He has had plenty of racing for his age, Saturday’s run was his 12th, but three of his last four runs have been the three best of his career, and he could continue to progress now. The handicapper raised him by 5lb to a mark of 106, but that was not harsh. The last three-year-old to win the Ayr Gold Cup, Don’t Touch in 2015, did so off the same mark of 101, and he won three of his first four races the following season, including a listed race, and reached a high rating of 114. Angel Alexander will be of interest wherever he goes next, in a listed race or in a handicap off this mark, and he could do even better on easier ground.

Ayr, 21^st September 2019