Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style

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


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


Caviar Heights deteriorated as the race went into the final furlong and a half and Murphy timed his difficulty to perfection and when he asked the concern, Almeric glided to the front of the field as the 13-8 preferred won for the third time in 4 starts, two and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.


Murphy informed ITV: "He's obviously a bit ring rusty since he's been off the track for a while however he came into the race perfectly but then he most likely got to the front a little bit faster than perfect.


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


"We have actually always enjoyed him he's the most stunning design.


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


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


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


The field divided 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 getting in the final half furlong, however Wood was constantly in command and the 8-1 saw off Sondad by one and three-quarter lengths.


Spencer said: "It's great, George gets on really well with him, the ground is the essential too him. He seems to just relish it and has a high travelling speed and simply keeps it going. I'm absolutely pleased. Hopefully we'll be coming back here next year for the huge one."


Owner Phil Cunningham added: "It's the sort of horse, specifically in a field like that, that he's not too hard to area. You know how's he going to run. He's going to come off the front and what an incredible training efficiency. It was incredible, definitely incredible."


Thunder Roar hit 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.