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Ayr Gold Cup Betting Sites & Event Review: Odds, Offers, and More

The Ayr Gold Cup is by far the most popular event in the Scottish flat racing calendar. It is a Class 2 flat handicap with a large field of around 25 runners and features some of the very best jockeys and trainers from Europe and around the world. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Ayrshire Coast and with £200,000 in prize money up for grabs, this is one not to be missed. Learn about the best Ayr Gold Cup betting sites right here in our review. Read More

Operator Welcome Offer Information About the Bookmaker Operator Rating Secure Link
£20 Free Bet
  • Streams: Available
  • Specials: Yes
  • Form: Spotlight
5.00 ★ out of 5
lp.coral.co.uk Full T&Cs apply. 18+. UK+IRE only. Min first bet £5 at odds 1/2 or more. Tote and Pool excluded. Must be placed within 14 days of account reg. £20 credited as 4 x £5 free bets. Not valid with CashOut. Free bet valid for 4 days. Free bet stake not returned.
£30 Free Bet
  • Streams: Available
  • Specials: Yes
  • Form: Timeform
4.50 ★ out of 5
william-hill.com Full T&Cs apply. New online customers only, min £10/€10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 X £10/€10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.
£20 Free Bets
  • Streams: Available
  • Specials: Yes
  • Form: Spotlight
4.50 ★ out of 5
ladbrokes.com Full T&Cs apply. 18+ New UK+IRE customers only. PayPal and certain deposit types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply.

For a brief overview of the different features of some best UK online bookmakers for this race you can refer to the table shown above. However, for more a more in-depth insight, which includes odds price reviews, general facts and figures and historical info, continue reading through the remainder of our article. When you’re done, you’ll know all there is to know about the most popular flat race in Scotland and you’ll be able to go ahead and start placing bets with more conviction.

Ayr Gold Cup Betting Offers and Promotions

Seem as though this Scotland’s most-anticipated flat racing event, you can be sure that betting sites will pull out all the stops and ensure that there are a good number of promotions available. Ayr Gold Cup betting offers come in all different shapes and sizes; some operators will advertise enhanced odds prices on certain selections, while others may have bet refund deals or even free bet promotions. BetVictor have been known to offer a good selection of offers in the past, so be sure to have a browse through the promotions page in the days and weeks leading up to the event. In addition, all the operators featured here in our review series will have best odds guaranteed deals, which will ensure you never have to settle for anything less than the best-value odds price.

Ayr Gold Cup Betting Odds Levels

Sussing out good value Ayr Gold Cup betting odds levels can be a bit tricky. To begin with, you don’t have to worry about placing super-early wagers – even though the odds prices may look more attractive – as all the operators we’ve featured here carry best odds guaranteed promotions. However, when it comes to looking for value, the best way forward is generally to study the field carefully, use the form guides provided on the online race cards and then meticulously go through your own handicapping process. History has proven that favourites have not faired well in this race; Don’t Touch, the winner in 2015 with a starting price of 6//1, is the only front-runner that has actually gone on to win since 1996, so the short odds prices attached to certain selections aren’t especially accurate indicators of how likely a horse is to win.

Some Interesting Facts

The Ayr Gold Cup is actually just one race in a three-day-long festival of racing that takes place every September at the Ayr Racecourse on the west coast of Ayrshire, Scotland. Other notable races that take place over the festival are the Class 1, Group 3 William Hill Firth Of Clyde Stakes, The Class 1, listed Doonside Cup, the Harry Rosebery Stakes and the Arran Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes. In recent years, the class of runner competing in the Ayr Gold Cup has been of the highest order, which has in turn seen it garner significant attention.

Event Information:
First Held: 1804
The William Hilliam Ayr Gold Cup logo Ayr Gold Cup logo  Ayr Gold Cup racecourse view with horses runningAyr Gold Cup racecourse view
Top Prize: £200,000
Duration of Event: One day 
Track: Ayr Racecourse
Weight: Handicap
Qualification: Three-year-olds and older
£20 Free Bet
  • Live streams shown
  • Form guides and tips
  • Special promotions
Full T&Cs apply. 18+. UK+IRE only. Min first bet £5 at odds 1/2 or more. Tote and Pool excluded. Must be placed within 14 days of account reg. £20 credited as 4 x £5 free bets. Not valid with CashOut. Free bet valid for 4 days. Free bet stake not returned.

In 2016 it was won by Brando, the American-bred gelding with a BHA rating of 114 – he was the highest rated horse ever to have won the cup. The second-place runner in 2016 was Growl, another American-bred horse; both went on to place in the Group 1 sprint race at Ascot Champions Day.

The Ayr Gold Cup is reserved for horses aged three-years-old and above and has a total purse of £200,000. Around £124,000 goes to the winner, with the remainder shared between the place runners.

The Story So Far

The Ayr Gold Cup was first established back in 1804 and was held at the old racecourse in Ayr at Belleisle up until 1907 when the track closed. It found its new home at the Ayr Racecourse a year later in 1908, which is the current venue of the race and the festival. In its early years, it was reserved for horses that were born and bred in Scotland. This all changed not long after it was first inaugurated, which has meant that Ayr Gold Cup Betting has become much-enjoyed, international pastime.

Back in 1824 the Ayr Gold Cup Festival that we’ve grown to know and love was first established and was known by another name – the Western Meeting. Within 20 years of it starting it grew significantly and received a prize money boost of £2000 – which was a lot in those days! The Ayr Gold Cup first became a handicap race in 1855 and today it is the richest handicap race throughout the whole of Europe.

To get the very best value to be sure to use one of the best Ayr Gold Cup betting sites featured here on our review page! For more fantastic reviews on some of the biggest occasions in horse racing, check out our events hub page.