Racing: Time for Wildwood Flower to bloom

Daunting is simply too small a word for the two 29-runner sprint handicaps which form the centrepiece of today's programme, and unlike 12 months ago, there is not even an obviously progressive runner for punters to latch on to in the Ayr Gold Cup. Then, it was Coastal Bluff, who was backed down to favouritism at 3-1 and duly cantered home, but in a race of such strength and depth, it would be the height of greed to expect anything similar today.

This field is far more evenly matched, and the only crutch for punters is a couple of trends which have emerged in recent runnings of the race.

The first is that a high draw seems a serious advantage, with four of the last five winners coming from a box in the mid to high 20s. The other is the fine record of fillies and mares in this race, which arrives at just the point of the season when the female of the species can show dramatic improvement. As a result, two names stand out in today's otherwise impenetrable list, My Melody Parkes (drawn 29) and Wildwood Flower (24).

Certainly, My Melody Parkes could not have been better treated by the ballot, and with her stablemate Selhurstpark Flyer likely to set the pace from 19, Jack Berry will go into the race with much optimism. At the likely odds, however, WILDWOOD FLOWER (nap 4.15) is the choice, following a victory last time out which implied that she is recapturing her excellent three- year-old form.

In the Silver Cup Perryston View (3.05) should go well from stall 28, and dependable Sandmoor Chambray (next best 3.35) deserves his chance in the Doonside Cup. Enjoyment of what should be a marvellous afternoon for armchair punters could be spoiled, though, by nothing more than a lost shoe before one of the races, since the schedules at Ayr and Newbury are just five minutes apart. Perhaps racing's well-heeled administrators simply do not realise that not everyone has two televisions.

At Newbury, Arkadian Hero will start at short odds for the Mill Reef Stakes. Luca Cumani's colt won a good event at Ripon last time which has pinpointed the Mill Reef winner in the last two years.

He should complete a short-priced double for Kieren Fallon, who rides Bin Rosie (2.00) in the opener. Bin Rosie is owned by Wafic Said, who said that Fallon would never touch another of his runners after Bosra Sham's defeat in the Eclipse Stakes. That was just about Fallon's only mistake this season and he richly deserves another chance - indeed, some of Fallon's more dedicated fans might question whether Said deserves him. Success today might see him back aboard Bosra Sham in the Champion Stakes now that Pat Eddery is out for the season.

Game Ploy, winner of the Courage Handicap 12 months ago, will be fancied to do so again today, but he has been rising in the weights. Titta Ruffo (3.00), who ran well when returning from a lay-off recently, offers better value, while Foundry Lane (3.30), well handicapped on his four-year-old form, is the Autumn Cup pick.

An excellent weekend at the Curragh has been tarnished by the removal of Central Park from tomorrow's National Stakes. In his absence, King Of Kings should complete a big-race double for Irish runners, since Oscar Schindler looks good for today's Irish St Leger, a so-called Classic with just two three-year-olds in the field.

The main event in France is the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp today, which has been ousted from its place on Sunday by trotting at Vincennes. This lack of taste should at least be punished by victory for one of the five foreign runners in the eight-strong field.