Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style

Almeric put a 158-day absence behind him as he originated from last to first to easily 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 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 went into the last furlong and a half and Murphy timed his challenge to perfection and once he asked the concern, Almeric moved to the front of the field as the 13-8 preferred won for the third time in 4 starts, 2 and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.


Murphy told ITV: "He's certainly a bit ring rusty because he's been off the track for a while however he came into the race well however then he most likely got to the front a little bit sooner than perfect.


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


"We've constantly enjoyed him he's the most stunning model.


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


"He's almost got an ideal record having actually won his last three starts and he ran well on debut. When you make racehorses this is what they are expected to look 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 hitting the front on the near side, with his primary rivals battling it out on the far side of the course.


Sondad was getting the much better of 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 stated: "It's excellent, George gets on truly well with him, the ground is the key too him. He seems to just enjoy it and has a high and just keeps it going. I'm definitely delighted. Hopefully we'll be returning 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 tough to area. You know how's he going to run. He's going to come off the front and what an incredible training performance. It was amazing, 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.