Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style

Almeric put a 158-day absence 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 pace in the Listed occasion with King's Gambit tabs on him two lengths in arrears with champ jockey Oisin Murphy pleased to drop the Andrew Balding-trained Almeric in at the rear of the field.


Caviar Heights compromised as the race entered the final furlong and a half and Murphy timed his challenge to excellence and as soon as he asked the question, Almeric glided to the front of the field as the 13-8 favourite won for the 3rd time in four starts, 2 and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.


Murphy told ITV: "He's clearly a bit ring rusty because he's been off the track for a while but he entered the race perfectly but then he most likely got to the front a bit quicker than perfect.


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


"We've constantly loved him he's the most gorgeous model.


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


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


Sondad was getting the better of Eye Of Dubai entering the final half furlong, but Wood was constantly in command and the 8-1 saw off Sondad by one and three-quarter lengths.


Spencer said: "It's excellent, George gets on actually well with him, the ground is the essential too him. He seems to just enjoy it and has a high cruising speed and just keeps it going. I'm absolutely happy. Hopefully we'll be returning here next year for the huge one."


Owner Phil Cunningham added: "It's the sort of horse, especially in a field like that, that he's not too difficult to spot. You know how's he going to run. He's going to come off the front and what a tremendous training performance. It was amazing, definitely fantastic."


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 give Murphy a double.