Pellitory brings up Ayr Gold Cup hat-trick for O’Meara

Pellitory provided David O’Meara with his third victory in the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup.

The meeting very nearly did not go ahead after a deluge of rain left a patch of ground waterlogged half a furlong from the winning line, resulting in two inspections.

With mudlarks in their element, Pellitory was right at home and after Danny Tudhope tracked over to the far side on the 12-1 shot along with Tuco Salamanca, the two pulled right away.

There was half a length between them at the line, with two and a half lengths back to Flash Harry in third.

It was Tudhope’s second victory in the race, having ridden O’Meara’s Summerghand in 2022, while the trainer also won with Louis The Pious in 2024 and owner Evan Sutherland was winning for the second time after Highland Colori struck in 2013 under Oisin Murphy, who was still an apprentice at the time.

Tudhope said: “I was drawn a bit out in the middle so made a choice to go left. I tracked the right horse through and this horse stays seven very well and his stamina got him there, he outstayed them.

“To do it once is unbelievable, but to do it again, being a local lad I can’t believe it. I’m thrilled for everybody. Evan is such a lucky owner, this isn’t the first time he’s won this. It was on my bucket list and I’ve done it twice now.”

O’Meara said: “Dandy Nicholls has won it six times and Kevin Ryan five so we’re a long way off that yet!

“I was a bit concerned about the draw (16) after the Silver Cup but we knew a few were going far side so decided to go with them.

“We thought he’d like the ground and the lad who rides him at home said a tongue strap might help. You needed to stay well in that ground to win today.

“He’s been running over seven for us so we knew he’d stay and he’d even run over a mile for previous connections which was a big help in this ground today.

“Evan and I were chatting about a month ago and I said to him, ‘if I’m going to win the Ayr Gold Cup it will be with your horse’. He’d won it before so he’s won it twice now.

“This was the target, we haven’t thought beyond this.”