Darley to ride Undeterred

Champion jockey Kevin Darley has been booked to ride Undeterred for Thirsk trainer David Nicholls in the Tote Ayr Gold Cup, for which a massive total of 134 horses stood their ground after today`s confirmation stage.

The six-furlong dash has a safety limit of 29 and on Friday there is the consolation Tote (Ayr) Silver Cup for those balloted out of Saturday`s feature.

Nicholls, who won the big sprint last year with Bahamian Pirate, is hoping to have four runners this time.

He said: 'I could have four in the Gold Cup and three in the Silver Cup.

'The Tatling, Undeterred, Continent and Galloway Boy could get in the Gold Cup. Zuhair, Tayif and Bodfari Pride run in the Silver Cup.'

Undeterred was a fast-finishing third to another of Saturday`s rivals, Guinea Hunter, in the Vodafone Stewards` Cup, a race in which Continent was badly hampered.

Nicholls, who would like to see some rain in the west of Scotland for his team, is hoping for better luck at the weekend.

He added: 'Kevin Darley rides Undeterred. Undeterred ran terribly in Ireland last time, very flat, while The Tatling was second in a claimer the other day.

'Continent had a lay-off and hopefully we can get him up there in some kind of form - he`s been very unlucky this time.'

Guinea Hunter has attracted strong support for the £100,000 contest following his close third to Smokin Beau in last Wednesday`s Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap at Doncaster.

Tim Easterby`s five-year-old is 8-1 from 10-1 with William Hill while the sponsors go 10-1 from 12-1. Ladbrokes and Coral make him their 8-1 favourite.

Smokin Beau, who incurred a 7lb penalty for the Ayr Gold Cup when winning the Portland, is not certain to be in the line-up in Scotland.

The four-year-old`s trainer John Cullinan explained: 'He might go to Newbury instead for the Listed race (Dubai Airport World Trophy).

'We haven`t made up our minds yet. We probably won`t make up our mind until he works on Wedecast is good in Scotland so that`s also got to come into it but I`m going to see what the handicapperat`s in at Newbury because it might be a good opportunity to get some black type next to his name.

'He`s improved with every race so we might go to Newbury. I`m a bit open minded at the moment.

'He took the Portland in his stride and I just want to do right by him at this time of year.

'I`m a bit worried about going to Ayr with a 7lb penalty particularly if the handicapper only puts him up 2lb or 3lb for winning the Portland.'

Another who could bypass the Ayr Gold Cup is current top weight Orientor, who is trained just outside Glasgow by Jim Goldie.

'We haven`t made our mind up about Orientor yet,' said Goldie. 'There`s an option for him at Ascot (BETDAQ Diadem Stakes) the following week.'

Orientor finished fifth in the Group One Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock Park last time and Goldie said: 'He`s fine after Haydock and he`s ready to run but we are keeping our options open.

'Indian Spark is a definite runner and Pips Magic could get in the Silver Cup.

'Indian Spark has form on all types of ground but if I had to pick my ground it would be good to firm. His form this year is on good to firm ground.

'It`s a cracking day up here today and it could be on the fast side of good by Saturday.'

Goldie has yet to finalise riding arrangements for Indian Spark and he added: 'Kieren Fallon will ride if he`s at Ayr but if not we`ll have to see who is available.'

The going at Ayr is currently described as good.

Tote Ayr Gold Cup betting:

The Tote: 9-1 Summerhill Parkes, Ghazal, Antonio Canova, 10-1 Guinea Hunter, 14-1 Indian Spark, 16-1 Brevity, Candleriggs, Continent, Undeterred, 18-1 Honesty Fair, 20-1 Ellens Academy, Needwood Blade, Smokin Beau, Banjo Bay, Seven No Trumps, Abbajabba, Jessica`s Dream, 25 bar.

William Hill: 8-1 Guinea Hunter, 10-1 Antonio Canova, Ghazal, Summerhill Parkes, 12-1 Indian Spark, 14-1 Abbajabba, Continent, Honesty Fair, 16-1 Banjo Bay, Brevity, Smoking Beau, 20-1 Candleriggs, Ellens Academy, Jessica`s Dream, Needwood Blade, Tayif, Undeterred, 25-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 8-1 Guinea Hunter, 10-1 Antonio Canova, 12-1 Abbajabba, 12-1 Ghazal, Summerhill Parkes, 14-1 Continent, Honesty Fair, 16-1 Banjo Bay, Undeterred, Seven No Trumps, Tayif, bar.

Coral: 8-1 Guinea Hunter, 10-1 Smokin Beau, Ghazal, Summerhill Parkes, 12-1 Antonio Canova, Abbajabba, 14-1 Brevity, Continent, Indian Spark, 16-1 Needwood Blade, 18-1 Banjo Bay, 20-1 bar.