2011 result

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Captain Ramius Sails Home in Ayr Gold Cup
22/09/12

1 Captain Ramius 16/1
2 Regal Parade 25/1
3 Maarek 8/1 Fav
4 Sholaan 16/1
26 ran

The Kevin Ryan trained Captain Ramius had already flown when a late charge from Regal Parade claimed second place in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup, the richest sprint handicap in Europe.

Captain Ramius
© Racehorse Photos

Ryan has now won three of the last six Ayr Gold Cups, including last year's race with Our Jonathan.

A 33-1 shot overnight, Captain Ramius came in for heavy support on Saturday morning, after Pricewise tipster Tom Segal nominated the mount of Pat Smullen as his selection, and was returned the 16-1 winner.

Sholaan took the field along until a furlong out where Captain Ramius was produced to storm into the lead, and he soon put the race to bed to win by two and a half lengths from 2008 hero Regal Parade (25-1) with 8-1 favourite Maarek a further length and a quarter away in third. Sholaan (16-1) was fourth.

Ryan, who also won this race with Advanced in 2007, said: "I'm delighted. We had four good horses going into the race.

"The ground is very testing out there. It's very tacky and even soft-ground horses don't go through it.

"He's a tough horse. It's great for the owners, they've let me do what I want with him. And I'm delighted for Pat, who's come over from Ireland to ride him.

"This is the richest sprint handicap in Europe and it's great to win it again."

Smullen said: "I just wanted to get a good position from a bad draw.

"He's a very straightforward horse and trained by a very good trainer.

"Kevin has always been a good supporter of mine when he sends horses to Ireland, so we have that connection. It's great to win a big race like this."

William Hill Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£120,000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 2
26 ran
Going: Heavy (Soft in places)