I HOPE to throw some light on what went wrong with Saffizz at Doncaster last Wednesday during racing Ayr this week.

Tony Culhane, who also was his jockey at York in May when he ran a shocker as well, said he completely lost his action after two furlongs and ran just like he did at York.

After his poor run at York he ran a blinder at Pontefract the following week, so we take him to Ayr on Friday hoping he makes amends.

I said to follow Godolphin, Dandy Nicholls and Les Eyre - the one still getting plenty of winners including 10/1 this week with his only runner of the day.

The Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday looks a tough assignment for pundits favourite Astonished - a three year old at such a short price.

I think there is better value for money in Royal Result of Dandy Nicholls and I have been impressed by Nigrasine (Eyre), and Eastern Purple (Kevin Ryan) on the gallops.

Both will definitely get in the race as they have been competing in group races most of the year and I think they are both outstanding value at 33/1.

Eyre's Cashmere Lady will also run well at Ayr this week. Richard Foley's horses are showing form again and it will surprise me if Vintage Premium does not win. Sir Mark Prescott has made several entries this week for his highly-rated Kingdom of Gold. He was very impressive at Hamilton last time he won and he must be in with a big chance.

Dereck Byrne, the national hunt jockey, is very impressed with Ribble Assembly, who he has schooled over hurdles. We are taking him to Malton tomorrow for a serious workout over their hurdle gallops and hopefully we will enter him for Weatherby next month.

My wife seemed very happy when we came away from the Doncaster sales last week. I picked four horses out of the catalogue which I was hoping to buy one of them, but they went for £40,000, £82,000 and two at £52,000, so I came home empty-handed. But there are still Newmarket and Ireland to go at!

Swan At Whalley has now gone to the Doncaster Racing School. Have a good week.

Wednesday: Beverley - Vintage Premium (nap); Napoleon's Return (EW); Beverley or Sandown - Connect.

Thursday: Ayr - Enaaq (nap); Play the Pied Piper.

Friday: Ayr - Red Typhoon (EW); Kingdom of Gold (nap).

Saturday: Ayr - Gralmano (nap); Ayr Gold Cup - Eastern Purple (EW); Nigrasine (EW); Ayr - Carambo.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.