Ayr Races Today – Get Ayr Tips from Scotland’s Premier Track
The storied history of Ayr races today dates back to the Elizabethan period. Antiquarians in Scotland found evidence of events taking place as far back as the mid-1570s during the minority of James VI (later James I of England).
As the home of its very own Gold Cup and Grand National, Ayr tips often focus on the track’s feature racedays in the autumn and spring in respective codes. This is the top dual-purpose racecourse in Scotland. Learn more about it and the horses to bet on running there below.
History of Ayr Racecourse
Skipping ahead almost 200 years, records show a track laid out at Belleisle in the Seafield part of town in the early 1770s. The inauguration of the Ayr Gold Cup in 1804, subsequently one of the most historic sprint handicaps anywhere in the world, was another key milestone for racing in Scotland.
That race was quite different then to how things are at Ayr races today with it being contested by Scottish-bred horses over a much longer trip at first. Belleisle was a tight, turning track with a complete circuit just one mile round. The Ayr Gold Cup became a handicap in 1855 and this historical race later cemented its status as an iconic cavalry charge for Flat thoroughbreds from throughout the British Isles.
Ayr Racecourse then moved to the Craigie area of the town, closer to where the eponymous river empties into the Firth of Clyde, midway through the Edwardian era in 1907. Laid out very similar to Newbury, it’s a left-handed galloping but flat track with a complete circuit of a mile-and-a-half round.
Is Ayr Races Today Flat or Jumps?
There is both Flat and jumps racing at Ayr Racecourse. It is thus busy all year round. A six-furlong straight used for sprint races including the Ayr Gold Cup joins the round course on the approximately half-a-mile run-in. A chute by the entrance to the back straight allows for 10-furlong races on the level.
National Hunt horse racing at Ayr commenced in 1950 during the postwar period. Bogside Racecourse soon closed nearby in the mid-1960s, prompting the switch of the Scottish Grand National to the track. This is the centrepiece jumps event at Ayr races today and it has been ever since.
A complete circuit of the steeplechase course has nine fences. Four of these are in the back straight and as many again after turning for home. There is also a cross fence in-between. Hurdle events on this race track have three flights down the back and the same again in the home straight.
Key Ayr Racecourse Fixtures
Two race meetings and racecards today in particular have more prestige than any other at Ayr. Taking them in chronological order throughout the calendar year, these are the two-day Scottish Grand National fixture in April and the three-day Western Meeting in September.
In recent years, the latter has been rebranded as the Ayr Gold Cup Festival. Many older punters still refer to it as the Western Meeting. Most Ayr tips today focus on the top-class racing these two fixtures provide to Scotland and the sport nationally.
Whether it’s the jumps or Flat, Ayr Racecourse is synonymous with big field handicaps. Obviously, events with such rich histories like the Scottish Grand National and Ayr Gold Cup have Premier Handicap and Heritage Handicap status respectively.
They test very different things in a racehorse, though. Successful Ayr Gold Cup tips are all about finding fast horses drawn on the right part of the straight course. Draw bias does play a huge part in determining the winner. That’s something we can’t always know for sure with ante post betting.
The Ayr Scottish Grand National, meanwhile, is all about equine stamina. This race, far from being a sprint over in around a minute, has a distance of about four miles. Horses must clear each fence at Ayr Racecourse three times on their way round.
The Biggest Races We Give Ayr Tips On
There are currently 16 races at Ayr today with a first prize of over £20,000. Other courses offer greater purses, but the most valuable horse racing events in Scotland take place here. Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
Coral Scottish Grand National
Lots of Ayr racing tips obviously centre on the Scottish National. A Premier Handicap Chase for staying steeplechasers, first place was worth over £112,000 in 2024. This is the most valuable of all Ayr races today from either code.
Notable past winners of the Scottish Grand National since its switch to this venue in 1966 include Aintree icon Red Rum, Little Polveir and, in more recent seasons, Vicente and Kitty’s Light. Irish master trainer Willie Mullins won the race for the first time in 2024 with Macdermott, the first-six-year-old since Earth Summit.
Ayr Gold Cup
One of Scotland’s best known Flat races, the Ayr Gold Cup celebrated 220 years since its inauguration in 2024. Originally a two-mile contest for stayers, the event became a mile handicap in 1870.
When Belleisle closed and Ayr races moved from Seafield to its current site in Craigie, the Gold Cup as we know it today was born. From 1908 onwards, this became a six-furlong sprint handicap where speed was everything. Ayr horse racing tips on this early closing race always have lots of runners to consider.
The Ayr Gold Cup had a first prize of over £92,000 in 2024, and famous winners who landed it en route to Group 1 successes include Lochsong and Coastal Bluff, plus a number of horses trained by Dandy Nicholls. He farmed the race in the early 2000s with six victories between 2000 and 2010 thanks to the likes of Bahamian Pirate, Continent and Regal Parade.
Scottish Champion Hurdle
A Grade 2 Limited Handicap Hurdle that acts as the chief supporting race on Scottish Grand National day, Ayr horse tips include their very own Champion Hurdle as well. It’s not just Aintree and Ascot, but Cheltenham too that the track takes inspiration from with its key races.
The Scottish Champion Hurdle is a two-mile contest and one of most thrilling jumps races of the National Hunt season in Scotland. Inaugurated in 1966 when the Ayr Grand National moved from Bogside, its early years saw many star turns travel up from south of the border.
Captain Christy won the Scottish Champion Hurdle the year before his Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph. Hurdling greats Comedy Of Errors, Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and Bird’s Nest are other notable winners from a golden age.
Over £56,000 went to the Scottish Champion Hurdle winner in 2024. Alderbrook in 1996 was the last horse to complete the Cheltenham-Ayr double.
Firth Of Clyde Stakes
Juvenile fillies compete for black type in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes during the Western Meeting / Ayr Gold Cup Festival. A six-furlong contest worth almost £37,000 to the winner in 2024, both Richard Fahey and William Haggas have won this race twice in recent years.
Doonside Cup
A Listed race over a mile-and-a-quarter during the big Flat Festival in September, the Doonside Cup is another supporting race for Ayr tips on the Gold Cup card. Around £34,000 went to first place in 2024.
Ayr Silver Cup
The Ayr Gold Cup is as oversubscribed with potential runners as any horse race in the world. There is a consolation race for those who don’t make the final field. This is the Ayr Silver Cup, another six-furlong sprint handicap introduced in 1992.
Like its Gold Cup counterpart, a maximum field of 25 runners and riders can take part. Those balloted out of the Silver Cup have, since 2009, dropped into the Ayr Bronze Cup. This concept of a consolation race for a consolation is unique.
One of the potential pitfalls of Ayr racing tips today is knowing which race horses end up in, depending on defections and final declarations. The Ayr Silver Cup had a first prize of around £33,500 in 2024.
Land O’ Burns Fillies’ Stakes
A race celebrating beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns takes place at Ayr over the summer in late June. This five-furlong sprint restricted to fillies and mares since 1989 has Listed status. Those considering Ayr races tips should know that the Karl Burke and Michael Dods stables have two wins apiece in recent years. The Land O’ Burns Fillies’ Stakes has first place prize money of £28,300.
Scotty Brand Handicap Chase
A Premier Handicap Chase over two miles during the Scottish National Festival, a recent trend of older horses winning it is something Ayr races today tips should bear in mind. Around £28,000 went to first place in 2024.
Arran Scottish Fillies’ Sprint
Another Listed race from the Western Meeting for females, but open to older fillies and mares, over the unique distance of five-and-a-half furlongs. Michael Dods has won this three times including with Mabs Cross when waterlogging meant a switch to Musselburgh. The Arran Scottish Fillies’ Sprint inaugurated in 2017 had a first prize of over £26,500 in 2024.
Rothesay Stakes
Yet more Listed action for older fillies and mares, but not at one of the big two meetings at Ayr Racecourse. The Rothesay Stakes is in late May or early June. This mile-and-a-quarter event won three times by Roger Varian since its inception in 2016 is another £26,500 race.
Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase
A Class 2 handicap chase over two-and-a-half miles on the opening day of the Scottish Grand National meeting. Ayr tips should note that Dan Skelton has four wins in this event since 2017. First past the post receives almost £25,750 in prize money.
Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase
There are also Ayr betting tips available for this three-mile contest on Scottish National day. A staying steeplechase run as a Class 2 handicap, the concept of the race is creating a pathway for future contenders in the big race. The Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase could produce Scottish Grand National horses of the future. In 2024, first place was around £25,750.
Ayrshire Handicap
A mile handicap during the Western Meeting / Ayr Gold Cup Festival. Open to horses aged three and up with a maximum rating of 100, it is often run under a sponsored title. Tips for Ayr races today on this race should consider runners from the David O’Meara and Richard Spencer stables, who have both saddled two winners in recent years. First place is around £23,000 in prize money.
Seafield Trophy
This mares only Class 2 handicap hurdle over three miles is another event on the Scottish National card. Ayr race tips for this staying race should consider the fact that six six-year-olds have won the race, currently worth £23,000 for first place, since 2014.
Johnstone Rose Bowl
Succeeding the Winton Cup as the main staying Flat handicap at Ayr, this one-mile five-furlong Class 2 contest held in June is for older horses with a maximum rating of 100. The Johnstone Rose Bowl, often run under a sponsored title, has prize money of £21,600 for the winner.
Harry Rosebery Stakes
And finally, this Listed race for two-year-olds takes place during the Ayr Gold Cup Festival. Run over the minimum distance of five furlongs, horses like Quiet Reflection and Winter Power helped establish the race in more recent tines. The Harry Rosebery Stakes comes with a first prize of just over £20,000.
FAQs
Is Ayr races on today?
With both Flat and jumps meetings at the course, if Ayr races today get cancelled, then they will make announcements about abandoning through official channels.
Where is Ayr Racecourse?
The racetrack at Ayr is on Whitletts Road, with a KA8 0JE postcode. It is in the Craigie area of the country town of Ayrshire in southwest Scotland.
How can I watch Ayr races today?
Tune in to ITV Racing for coverage of the Scottish Grand National meeting and Ayr Gold Cup Festival. Smaller fixtures from Ayr Racecourse are on Racing TV.
Where can I find tips and Ayr races results today?
There are tips for Ayr today and the latest action from the course right here on this very page. Once the jockeys have weighed in, you can also view fast horse racing results from the track. Get all the Ayr races today results in the same place as recommended AI tips.
How far is the Ayr Gold Cup?
The Ayr Gold Cup is a six-furlong Heritage Handicap and the feature Flat race at the course. Six furlongs is three-quarters of a mile, or roughly 1,200m.
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