Three Standout Performances From Weekend Races It was another jam-packed weekend of racing in Britain and Ireland this weekend, with the Ayr Gold Cup meeting, the Cesarewitch trials card at Newmarket on Saturday and the start of the Listowel Festival. We have picked out a trio of selections that caught the attention of our racing expert including one to follow in the end of season handicaps. Ayr - Woven Woven ran a huge race from the wrong side at Ayr on Friday in the Ayr Bronze Cup and that’s a run worth marking up for a few reasons. It’s not the first time Michael Dods’ veteran has been an unlucky second at this meeting, having gone close in the Silver Cup a few seasons ago, and he’s come so far down the handicap that even a few pounds for Friday’s performance probably isn’t going to stop him getting his head back in front next time. It was soft ground on Friday and all his best form is with cut in the ground, so that’s a factor worth considering if he goes in your tracker, but given how far the stands’ side were behind compared to those that raced against the far rail, there’s got to be a big chance he’ll still be well handicapped from his revised mark. It was the manner he shot clear of his rivals on his side that really impressed and there’s got to be a big chance that he’s going to be a big player in some of the end handicaps at the likes of Doncaster and York. Irish Nectar was another one at a big price from that side that made some late gains and could be capable of scoring next time out but his effort certainly wasn’t as striking as that of Woven. Ayr - Valley Of Flowers Another runner who really caught the eye on Friday was Valley Of Flowers. It’s fair to say that she wasn’t seen to her best effect, held up in rear in a steadily run race before exerting effort too far from home. However, she did well to hang around to finish third behind a handicap debutant who was well backed at big prices and a well-backed favourite who finished runner-up. The mare remains feasibly treated and if she gets more of a savvy ride next time out, it would be no surprise if she was capable of getting her head back in front. Newmarket - I Still Have Faith The Amateur Jockeys’ Cambridgeshire that closed Newmarket’s card on Saturday looked like a highly competitive affair on paper. However, I Still Have Faith was backed like defeat was out of the question, widely available at 8/1 the night before racing and going off as a 7/2 favourite and it was easy to see why in the race itself. He could hardly have been more unlucky, having the door closed on him multiple times in the final couple of furlongs, before a fast finishing effort up the Rowley Mile hill saw him beaten by just half a length. There’s little doubt that he would have won with a clear run and he’s definitely worth following next time out.
