Our Jonathan is a classy winner of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup

Sep 23 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

CLASS told in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup when the well gambled Our Jonathan won by a very cosy two lengths from favourite Eton Rifles.

Ridden by Franny Norton, trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Dr Marwan Koukash who also owns Redford who won the race last year, the 11/1 shot was one of the easiest winners of the race with plenty in hand on the others.

Named after the owner's brother-in-law's son who died playing football at the age of 15, Our Jonathan was a really successful two-year-old a couple of years back and returned to top form to stay on strongly and turn over the 6/1 favourite.

Dr Koukash was unstinting in his praise for Our Jonathan and said it didn't matter where you were drawn in the race.

He said: "We were drawn in the middle and could have gone either way and we could have won it, he won it so easily.

“I am so glad I came up this year, I missed last year so it is great to be up here. Great course, great people, great result. We left at six this morning to be here and I don't think we'll go back till six o'clock tomorrow morning now."

Trainer Ryan added: “In the last ten days he has really sparkled – it is difficult to be confident for the Ayr Gold Cup but I felt he was just right today."

And a jubilant Norton said: “I was destined to win this race - I was due to ride Redford last year and Bahamian Pirate a few years ago who both won but today was the day for me."

More than 10,000 people enjoyed the racing on Saturday and despite a poor forecast the weather held up remarkably well.

The William Ayr Silver Cup also produced a remarkable result when the winner of last year's Bronze Cup, Cheveton won at 12/1 under Dale Swift for trainer Richard Price.

The seven-year-old won by half a length from Marvellous Value (20/1). Could it be a Gold Cup win beckoning for Cheveton next year ?

Friday's William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup produced a 1-2 for trainer Richard Fahey when Coolminx (Barry McHugh) beat Jeannie Galloway (Paul Hanagan).

Other highlights during the week included a superb performance from Poet, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby to win the williamhill.com Doonside Cup at odds of 5/4 fav. Roger Sez (14/1) annihilated the field in the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde Stakes.

And although he didn't win the Gold Cup this time round, David Nicholls did land a trophy with the williamhill.com Ayrshire Handicap going the way of Don't Call Me ridden by his son Adrian and returned at 12/1.

Thursday's feature race, the williamhill.com Handicap for the Kilkerran Cup was won by Alistair Whillans’ Scrapper Smith in the hands of Julie Burke.

The BAM Properties Harry Rosebery Stakes for the South Ayrshire Cup went the way of Caledonia Lady (5/4 fav), ridden by Paul Hanagan for trainer Jo Hughes.

Ayr races again on Tuesday with the Autumn Raceday. For more details or to book tickets call 01292 264179 or go on line at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk