Northern to show plenty of Ticker

Northern Ticker looks a worthy contender for Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup honours on Saturday.

Not many guide sprinters as well as Michael Dods and the Darlington-based trainer could have a bright future to look forward to with this lightly-raced three-year-old.

Gelded before he saw a racecourse but Listed-placed at two, he now has three wins from seven starts to his name and definitely appeared a horse on the up when winning at the Ebor meeting.

Up 3lb for York, he actually carries a 5lb penalty but could easily still have  more to give and while the draw will play a big part he must be thereabouts with stall 19. You have to go back to 2017 to find a winner who broke from a single figure stall.

Almeric could outclass his rivals in the Ladbrokes "Big Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup.

Andrew Balding's runner has not been seen since winning the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April, but that was a decent race and while there is obviously a question mark given his absence, he is still engaged in the Champion Stakes and falls into the 'could be anything' category.

Catching The Moon looks an exciting one for Richard Fahey and can prove the point in the Firth Of Clyde Stakes.

This a big step up from her Beverley win - form that has been well advertised  by the runner-up Ophelia Grace - but she is beautifully bred and it would be great to see her trainer with another proper horse.

Words Of Truth is expected to take a step up in class in his stride in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Well beaten on his debut here in May, the son of Lope De Vega was subsequently gelded and the operation appears to have had the desired effect judged on a couple of clear-cut wins at Ascot and Newbury.

Trainer Charlie Appleby had the option of running the more proven high-class juvenile Wise Approach in this Group Two contest but has instead opted to saddle Words Of Truth, who he presumably believes will be up the task.

Montassib makes his seasonal reappearance in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy and the William Haggas-trained gelding ought to take the beating if he is ready to do himself justice.

Always useful, he really thrived in two runs this time last year, winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock and being far from disgraced in finishing fifth in the Champions Sprint at Ascot.

Roger Varian has his string going well and Defiance can give him a winner in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap.

The Highclere-owned four-year-old has run well in three handicaps so far this year and this mark of 100 is not beyond him, with a return to 2000m on this ground expected to prove ideal.

Carbine Harvester is one to keep an eye on at Newmarket, where he goes in division one of the Turners Parks Group Ltd Handicap.

Like Montassib he represents the Haggas yard and ran better than his placing suggests at Ascot earlier this month, on what was his first start for 126 days and since being gelded.

Dropped 2lb for that, he is now only 3lb higher than when winning on the all-weather at Kempton in April. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

AYR: Race 1 - 14.15 Hi Royal, Race 2 - 14.50 ALMERIC (NAP), Race 3 - 15.25 Silky Wilkie, Race 4 - 16.00 Catching The Moon, Race 5 -  16.35 Northern Ticker, Race 6 - 17.10 Arabian Desert, Race 7 - 17.40 Abduction, Race 8 - 18.15 Our Mighty Mo.

CHESTER: Race 1 - 14.55 Dubai Time, Race 2 - 15.30 Yorkshire Queen, Race 3 - 16.05 Spirit Genie, Race 4 - 16.40 Ventura Express, Race 5 - 17.15 Jer Batt, Race 6 - 17.45 Dino Bellagio, Race 7 - 18.20 Jupiter Ammon.

GOWRAN PARK: Race 1 - 14.42 Cosmetic, Race 2 - 15.17 Hamiyan, Race 3 - 15.52 Faiyum, Race 4 - 16.27 Manhattan Dandy, Race 5 - 17.03 Pink Socks, Race 6 - 17.35 Amplitude, Race 7 - 18.10 Great Mover, Race 8 - 18.40 Gleneagle Bay.

NAVAN: Race 1 - 14.25 Royal Approval, Race 2 - 15.00 Avalo, Race 3 - 15.35 County Final, Race 4 - 16.10 Rebellious Gale, Race 5 - 16.45 Juke Box Rock, Race 6 - 17.20 Cut The Rope, Race 7 - 17.55 Clonbury Bridge, Race 8 - 18.30 Apples Jane.

NEWBURY: Race 1 - 14.30 Montassib, Race 2 - 15.05 Castle Cove, Race 3 - 15.40 Defiance, Race 4 - 16.15 Words Of Truth, Race 5 - 16.50 Veritable, Race 6 - 17.25 Linwood, Race 7 - 18.00 Woroodd.

NEWMARKET: Race 1 - 14.00 Romantic Symphony, Race 2 - 14.35 Charming Princess, Race 3 - 15.10 Pressure's On, Race 4 - 15.45 Carbine Harvester, Race 5 - 16.20 Arran, Race 6 - 16.55 Sheradann, Race 7 - 17.30 Census, Race 8 - 18.05 Tempus.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1 - 17.19 Gullane Girl, Race 2 - 17.50 Resdev Kisses, Race 3 - 18.25 Champagne Dream, Race 4 - 18.55 Deluded, Race 5 - 19.30 Noisy Music, Race 6 - 20.00 Valadero, Race 7 - 20.30 Karakula, Race 8 - 21.00 Jimmy Mark, Race 9 - 21.30 Dragonfly In Amber.