The Ayr Gold Cup Festival is one of the highlights in the Scottish racing season and the feature race is a valuable handicap at the back end of the season. Here is all you need to know about the three day event.

How Many Days Is The Ayr Gold Cup Festival?

The Ayr Gold Cup Festival takes place over three days in September. In 2025, the Festival gets underway on Thursday, 18^th September, with the racing highlight being the Kilkerran Cup. Friday is traditionally Ladies Day at the track, and there is also the Harry Roseberry Stakes, the Arran Scottish Sprint, and the Ayr Bronze Cup scheduled. The Ayr Bronze Cup is for horses who fail to qualify for the Silver Cup or the Gold Cup and the six furlong sprint can be contested by up to 25 horses.

Saturday is all about the Gold Cup with its status as a high-quality sprint handicap, and a prize purse which is not to be sniffed at. The Silver Cup will be contested on Saturday alongside the Listed Doonside Cup and the Group 3Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes – Scotland’s only Group race.

Who Are The Favourites in the Ayr Gold Cup?

After finishing second in the Nunthorpe Stakes, Ain’t Nobody is currently amongst the favourites for the Ayr Gold Cup. Outrunning his price of 100/1 at York, Ain’t Nobody was raised 13lb by the handicapper from a mark of 99 to 112. However, as the Ayr Gold Cup is an early closing race, he is able to run off his previous mark which has left his connections with a decision to make as the Prix de L’Abbaye remains an option.

Constantine Handicap winner Northern Ticker will be a danger if he is declared, whilst the fourth in that race – Two Tribes – could also be an option.

West Ham fans have had a tough time of it lately, but their eyes will be drawn to Hammer The Hammer with Kevin Ryan’s three-year-old a winner over six furlongs at Chester’s May Festival earlier this year.

The last five years have seen two Ayr Gold Cup betting favourites get home in front with Nahaarr winning at 7/2 in 2020 and significantly triumphing in 2023 when sent off an 8/1 joint favourite.

There have also been two double-figure priced winners in that time as well, with last year’s 20/1 winner Lethal Levi a potential entrant in this year’s renewal for northern trainer Karl Burke.

We will have all the runners and riders priced up as we approach the big day and we have a full range of horse racing betting odds for every race across the UK, Ireland, France, and further beyond. In addition to our fixed odds offering, we also offer horse racing spread betting. For further information about this, we have a handy guide to help you get up to speed.

How many horses run in the Ayr Gold Cup?

Up to 25 qualifiers can run in the Ayr Gold Cup, with those who fail to make the cut dropping into the Silver and Bronze Cups.

How Old Is The Ayr Gold Cup?

The Ayr Gold Cup was first contested way back in 1804 when it took place at the former track on the other side of Ayr. In 1824 the first Ayr Gold Cup Festival was held, although it was called the Western Meeting. In 1855, the Gold Cup became a handicap and it has progressed to be the richest sprint handicap in Europe.

Where can I watch the Ayr Gold Cup?

All days of the Ayr Gold Cup Festival can be watched on Racing TV, with selected races from Saturday shown live as part of ITV Racing’s coverage

Please remember that when spread betting, losses can exceed deposit.