Ffrench Relishing Border Challenge

Royston Ffrench is hoping top-weight Borderlescott can go one better in this year's totesport.com Ayr Gold Cup.

The tough-as-teak five-year-old was beaten a length by Fonthill Road 12 months ago and has since been beaten a short-head by Zidane in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, a race he had won the year before.

And despite the fact he is racing off a career-high mark tomorrow, Ffrench believes he is good enough to land a Group race in the near future.

'He's one of my favourite horses,' said Ffrench.

'He's so consistent and no matter how much weight they keep putting on his back he runs his race. He's a little horse, but he carries it well.

'He always tries his best and I'm really looking forward to riding him.

'We were just touched off in the race last year and it was just unfortunate there was one over on the other side.

'He never does anything wrong and he always tries his best, which is a bonus.

'It never seems to matter which side he is drawn on as he is just so consistent.

'He hasn't managed to win outside of handicap company, but I believe he is a Group horse. He was just touched off at Windsor and then at Beverley in Listed races and I'm sure he'll win one of those soon.

'Everything needs to go right, but he seems to really enjoy racing in big fields, he seems to benefit from it.'

Pearly Way has been in good form of late, as his third place finish in the Portland Handicap last week at Doncaster showed.

However, the heavy rain that fell on Thursday has tempered trainer Clive Cox's enthusiasm with regard to his chance.

'I was hardly jumping for joy when the rains came yesterday, but he is in such good form, as he showed in the Portland last week,' said Cox.

'He's come out of the race absolutely fine. Sadly the rain will not aid his performance, but he's in such good form we are going to give it a go.

'He's had such a wonderful season and we'll just see how things pan out.

'He's had a wonderful campaign regardless and it would be great if he could run a big race, but I'm concerned about the ground.

'Philip Robinson has a great record on him, but to be honest there are not many horses that he doesn't get on with.

'He's drawn stall 16 so he could go either way and I don't think there is going to be a massive disadvantage anywhere on the track.'

Eve Johnson Houghton has had a fantastic first season in charge at Woodway Stables in Oxfordshire since taking over from her father Fulke, and she is looking to top it off with a win for Beaver Patrol.

'He won in first-time visors last time at Newbury and it is not that he is ungenuine or anything, he just sometimes lacks concentration at the vital stages,' she said.

'It just helps him and it helps the jockey, these sprints are won by little things like that.

'Kevin Darley will ride him and even though he hasn't ridden him before, this horse goes really well for first-time jockeys.

'Stephen (Carson) is going to Newbury to ride Judd Street in a Group race and can't be in two places at once.

'We have a bit of history with Kevin too, as my Dad gave him his first Group winner.

'He wouldn't want the ground heavy by any means, I hope it is going to stop raining now. He has won seven races, six on good to firm and one on good to soft so that tells its own story.

'We would prefer faster ground, but you get what you are given. It's the same with the draw (18), it's all very well getting everyone to pick there own stall, but if you are drawn out late you have little choice.

'And you have no idea where the best place to be is so you pay your money and take your choice really.'

(C) PA Sport