Alan Thomson's Tips: Double your money with Brandon at Ayr

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BRANDON CASTLE (4.00) won’t be much of a price (evens last night) but will be very hard to beat in the 1m 5f handicap at Ayr given his liking for soft ground.

Archie Watson has wasted no time bringing him out again after his annihilation job at Chester on Saturday and Brandon Castle has won his last two races by an aggregate of 26 lengths under today’s rider Andrew Mullen.

Resolute galloper Brandon Castle likes to get on with the job and although Sebastian’s Wish also likes to force the pace, Keith Dalgleish’s stayer has shown his best form on a fast track. He certainly won’t get that today.

RUBIS (2.55) will handle the ground better than most in the 1m 1f handicap. Richard Fahey’s filly scored with a degree of comfort here in June on soft and returned to form at Carlisle 15 days ago when runner-up on heavy. Rubis is nicely handicapped with Sammy Jo Bell’s 3lb claim a bonus.

The William Hill-sponsored card throws up a few tough handicaps and we have seen some strange end-of-season results lately on the prevailing deep ground. I’m hoping there could be another upset of sorts in the 1m 7f handicap which sees WOR LASS (3.25) dropped in grade.

Whether she will handle what is likely to be pretty desperate conditions is debatable but there is no arguing that her Ayr third to Dubawi Fifty and Tor over 1m 7f in July is the best single piece of form on offer. Wor Lass isn’t the most consistent these days but her second to Bonnie Arlene at Musselburgh at the end of August was another good run.

Elite Icon improved for the step up in trip when scoring on heavy ground at Carlisle but Jamie Gormley will be unable to claim his full 7lb allowance off 8st 2lb. The bottom weight is still feared.