Ayr Gold Cup Result: Captain Ramius storms to success

Kevin Ryan's Captain Ramius won the Ayr Gold Cup
Captain Ramius gave trainer Kevin Ryan back-to-back victories in the Ayr Gold Cup...
While last year's winner Our Jonathan failed to make an impact this time round, it was Captain Ramius, ridden by top Irish jockey Pat Smullen, who landed the spoils.
Sholaan took the field along until a furlong out where Captain Ramius was produced to storm into the lead.
He soon put the race to bed to win by two and a half lengths from 2008 hero Regal Parade with Maarek a further length and a quarter away in third. Sholaan finished 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.
After the Bunbury Cup I said to Clodagh (McStay, owner) I was going to train him for the Ayr Gold Cup. 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.
"We start thinking about this race in January. When it comes off it's great. This is the richest sprint handicap in Europe and it's great to win it again.