Ryan enjoys Ayr Gold Cup hat-trick

Sholaan took the field along until a furlong out where 16-1 chance Captain Ramius was produced to storm into the lead.

He soon put the race to bed to win by two and a half lengths from 2008 hero Regal Parade 
(25-1) with 8-1 favourite Maarek a further length and a quarter away in third. Sholaan (16-1) was fourth.

Smullen was having his first ride at Ayr and said: “It’s a great track and I’m sure I’ll be coming back.

“Thanks to Kevin for asking me over, we go back a long way in Ireland.”

North Yorkshire handler, successful last year with Our Jonathan, who was unplaced this time, and also won with Advanced in 2007, said: “I’m delighted. We had four good horses going into the race.

“After the Bunbury Cup I said to Clodagh (McStay, owner) I was going to train him for the Ayr Gold Cup.

“He’s a tough horse. It’s great for the owners, they’ve let me do what I want with him. And I’m delighted for Pat, who’s come over from Ireland to ride him. We start thinking about this race in January. When it comes off it’s great.”

Captain Ramius will step back up to seven furlongs for the Betfred Challenge Cup at Ascot.

Trainer Ryan had the Heritage Handicap at the Berkshire track on October 6 in mind for the six-year-old before he lifted Europe’s richest sprint handicap on Saturday.

“He’ll go to Ascot. That was always the plan after Ayr,” Ryan told At The Races.

“We’ve got a couple of weeks to get him nice and fresh again.

“He’s got good form on the course and that will probably be his last race of the season.

“I don’t think we’ll take him back to Dubai. He’ll have a nice winter break here and then see where we are with him.

“We have a few in the Ascot race and there will be only be 18 runners so all those that get in the race will run if they are okay.”

Paul Mulrennan’s double on Mass Rally and Melody Of Love was tempered by two four-day bans (October 6, 8-10, 11, 12, 14 and 15) for using his whip above the permitted level.

Mulrennan brought Mass Rally (16-1) to collar Highland Colori on the line to snatch the William Hill Ayr Silver Cup.

Highland Colori looked like landing a gamble, but the Michael Dods-trained Mass Rally powered home to get up for a short-head success.

Dods said: “I’m so pleased for the horse. You just can’t bustle him along, you have to sit and wait, but he has plenty of ability and Paul gave him a great ride.”

Mulrennan steered Melody Of Love (7-2) to a cosy length and a half victory in the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth Of Clyde Stakes.

“I’m really pleased with that. She is our first winner in a Group race,” said trainer Ann Duffield.

“The way she works at home we thought she would go through the ground. She has a huge heart and is very tough.”

Jack Dexter justified strong support in the William Hill Bronze Cup.

Trained near Glasgow by Jim Goldie, the 5-1 favourite came through strongly under Graham Lee to beat Cheveton by two and a quarter lengths.

Goldie said: “He’s by Orientor, one of the best horses we’ve had, and it’s a dream that he might come back and go for the Gold Cup next year.”

The Andrew Balding-trained Opera Gal (8-13) romped to an 11-length victory in the williamhill.com Doonside Cup.

Jockey Jim Crowley said: “I think she’s good enough to step up to a Group Three.”

Ian McInnes sent out Top Notch Tonto (11-1) to win the Sked Construction-Concrete’s What We Do Nursery in the hands of 3lb claimer Dale Swift.

“That was a hell of a performance under top weight,” said the East Yorkshire trainer.

Freddie Tylicki continued his excellent recent run when scoring on Common Touch (9-1) in the John Smith’s Handicap for trainer Richard Fahey.

However, Capaill Liath, who was only a short-head behind the winner, was disqualified after Phillip Makin failed to weigh in. No Poppy was promoted to second.

Makin was handed a seven-day ban, October 6 and 8-13 inclusive.

Crowley joined Mulrennan with a brace when taking the concluding Isle Of Skye Handicap on the Ralph Beckett-trained Albert Bridge (7-1).

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