Monday's Ayr best bets and racing tips: Golden Flame should dominate small field
Ayr racecourse
Planet Sport tipsters are north of the border for the afternoon race meeting at Ayr on Monday, July 4.
What better way to start the week than by giving the bookies a good bashing, and we've got the hot tips to set you in the right direction.
Before you delve into our quick list of selections, and further details on our highlighted horses, here's a quick reminder you can follow the latest racecards and results on Planet Sport's live race centre.
13:50 (Ayr) Dornoch Castle
14:25 (Ayr) Polam Lane
15:00 (Ayr) Wrecked It Ralph
15:35 (Ayr) Golden Flame
16:10 (Ayr) Quest For Fun
16:45 (Ayr) Yaaser
17:15 (Ayr) Tele Red
13:50 (Ayr) Dornoch Castle
Dornoch Castle was one of many juvenile debut winners for his top yard last month and the style of his performance at Haydock, where he made all, suggested Pattern company may await at some point this season.
An entry in the Group 1 National Stakes indicates the regard in which he is held and the son of Gleneagles can prove too classy for Common Acclaim, who should benefit from the step up to 7f.
Ramz has the potential to improve on just his second start and is another to note.
15:35 (Ayr) Golden Flame
Charlie Johnston's Golden Flame faces his easiest task for a while in the Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap.
What will be in his favour to begin with is a much smaller field and he may well be able to dominate.
That has certainly not been the case the last twice in the Ascot Stakes and the Northumberland Plate.
They are two of the most competitive staying handicaps of the season, so it was no surprise that his forcing tactics did not work.
Golden Flame has won three times and the biggest field he has won in was a six-runner affair at Haydock.
He faces just five rivals once more and while he is still 5lb above his last winning mark, a new pair of hands in Cieren Fallon might just work the oracle.
16:10 (Ayr) Quest For Fun
Quest For Fun's first career victory at Thirsk has worked out well and he has every chance of following up in the Book Your Ayr Gold Cup Tickets Handicap.
The gelded son of Lope De Vega shaped with significant promise in three juvenile outings in novice company at Newcastle last term, with a sixth-placed debut finish followed by neck and head defeats.
He was set a stiff enough task on his handicap debut and reappearance at Haydock in May and was ultimately well beaten, but it looked to serve a purpose.
Dropped 4lb ahead of his most recent outing in North Yorkshire, Julie Camacho's inmate finished with a flourish to open his account - a performance which looks even better with hindsight as both the runner-up Ghathanfar and the third home Lovely Mana won next time.
A 7lb hike clearly makes life more difficult, but Quest For Fun remains lightly-raced and may not yet have reached the ceiling of his ability.
