Majestic Performance Expected

Majestic Times was only beaten the narrowest of margins into third in the totesport Ayr Gold Cup on his last trip to Britain two years ago and Liam McAteer believes he has him primed for another sterling effort on Saturday.

Although the seven-year-old ? a 25-1 shot with the sponsors ? has not won a race since a month after that performance, his trainer reports him to be showing much more sparkle before his attempt off a 3lb higher mark.

'He won a Listed sprint at Cork soon after his last run at Ayr, but last year we could never get him right,' said McAteer.

'The ground was too fast and hopefully there will be some nice ease at Ayr as I have him in tremendous form.

'He was fourth at Dundalk from a wide draw last time and that has just left him right.

'We have been going for this race since the start of the year and bringing him along quietly.

'He never lets us down and was only beaten a couple of short heads two years ago and ran best of those down the stands side. He has so much pace, and right, left or middle, I don't mind where he's drawn.

'But it's so tight in these races ? you can finish 10th and run a blinder.

Navan-based McAteer will bring a team of about six over for the three-day meeting and hopes either Pat Shanahan or Chris Hayes can ride Majestic Times.

He hopes the ex-Walter Swinburn inmate Propinquity can make an impact in the totescoop6 Ayrshire Handicap.

The trainer continued: 'He got the shock of his life when third on the beach at Laytown last time.

'He had 12 stone and had the sand and the salt flying at him. He's in great form and will much prefer these conditions.'

Robin Bastiman reports the admirable Borderlescott to be in fine shape ahead of his bid to go one better than last year under top weight of 9st 12lb.

The Wetherby handler's stable star went down by only a length under 9st 10lb to Fonthill Road ? who was on the opposite side of the track ? in the six-furlong cavalry charge last September.

And he failed by only a short head to win with 9st 9lb when bidding for back-to-back victories in the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood this summer.

The five-year-old was also foiled by the minimum margin by Hellvelyn at Beverley on his latest start.

'He's up for it. He ran well enough last year. He was on the stands side and the winner was on the far side, it's all about where the pace is,' said Bastiman.

'He's the only sprinter I know who hasn't run a bad race all year.

'The ground there is OK for him at the moment. He's better on good, good to soft ground, but I don't want it to go heavy with him carrying top weight. He's got a lot of weight for a little horse.

'He's well, touch wood, and I just hope he keeps right for the weekend.

'Royston Ffrench will ride him. He knows the horse and that's the main thing.

'He did a piece of strong work last week and pleased us, but he doesn't show a lot at home. He waits until he gets to the track. He's well in himself and all our horses are running well.'

Borderlescott is 12-1 with the sponsors for Ayr glory.

(C) PA Sport