Frizzante, who had the worst of the draw when running a cracking race to finish fourth in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last month, has the best of starting positions tomorrow as she bids to gain valuable compensation in Scotland's premier sprint.

The £100,000 Tote Ayr Gold Cup sees 28 horses facing the starter, including seven from David Nicholls' Sessay yard, which has won this race for the last three years, but I think that Frizzante, trained at Newmarket by James Fanshawe, is the one they will all have to beat.

Winner of her first two starts this season, at Leicester and Doncaster, the four-year-old then ranin the Stewards' Cup with plenty of credit. Drawn 3, Frizzante 'won' her race on the near side of the course, but was unable to reach the first three home, which raced on the highly-favoured far side.

Tomorrow, high numbers in the draw promise to be a big advantage. From stall 25, Frizzante is ideally berthed. Add to that slight easing in the ground, which will suit her perfectly, and everything looks set for Jamie Spencer, winner of last Saturday's St Leger on Brian Boru, to triumph.

Fire Up The Band, Onlytime Will Tell and last year's winner Funfair Wane lead the Nicholls' team, but none of trio looks ideally drawn.

More suitably berthed are the consistent Vanderlin and the Tim Easterby-trained Dazzling Bay, spectacular winner of the William Hill Sprint at York in mid-summer.

Tomorrow, though, a different bookmaker puts up the prize and I make Frizzante my Nap selection.

On what should be a wonderful day's racing at Ayr, Kevin Darley winning the opening race, the Sioexho Prestige Firth of Clyde Stakes, on Ruby Rocket.

Hughie Morrison's smart filly was far from disgraced at Salisbury last time when beaten for the first time in three starts.

Darley can also win the Doonside Cup on Island House, last year's winner, while the promising Summer View should give Richard Hughes, who rode three winners on the course yesterday, a good ride in the Tote Ayrshire Handicap.

At Newbury, Mick Easterby's Blue Spinnaker makes plenty of appeal with Kieren Fallon on board in the Courage Best Handicap, which has £100,000 in added prize money.

A progressive performer this season, Blue Spinnaker lost no merit in defeat at York last time when finishing fourth from a poor draw. He faces tough opposition tomorrow, but has plenty going for him.

At Catterick, George Duffield has good prospects on Mark Johnston's promising Bloemfontain (2.00) and also on Tempsford (3.05), trained by Sir Mark Prescott.

Saturday's tips:

AYR

1.55 Ruby Rocket, 2.25 Island House, 2.55 Summer View, 3.35 Frizzante (Nap), 4.10 Carte Sauvage, 4.45 Late Claim, 5.15 Santisima Trinidad.

NEWBURY

TV races: 1.40 Magic Mistress, 2.10 Mornin Reserves, 2.40 Researched, 3.15 Blue Spinnaker.

CATTERICK

2.00 Bloemfontain, 2.30 Staff Nurse, 3.05 Tempsford, 3.40 Graceful Air, 4.15 Just One Smile, 4.50 Duo Leoni 5.20 Cut Ridge.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Warwick and Wolverhampton.

Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was Cd Europe (2.40 at Ayr).

This is a change from his Nap published yesterday, which we were unable to change in later editions because the overnight declarations for Ayr, in which his original Nap was withdrawn, were not available from national racing agency Weatherbys in time for publication.

Updated: 12:39 Friday, September 19, 2003