by Tom O'Ryan

BANJO Bay can call the tune tomorrow in Scotland's richest race the £100,000 Tote Ayr Gold Cup.

Trained by Bryan McMahon, the three year old looks vastly over-priced at 25-1, having been beaten by only half a length in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month, by Antonio Canova, who is now vying for favouritism at around 8-1.

Banjo Bay is drawn in stall four on the far side of the course, and should receive a good lead from habitual front runner Get Stuck In during a race where the field will almost certainly split into two distinct groups.

Among the high numbers in the draw are Tim Easterby's Guinea Hunter, third to Bahamian Pirate in this race last year, and the winner of this season's Stewards' Cup at Goodwood.

Guinea Hunter finished a close up third in last week's Portland Handicap at Doncaster and now crosses swords again with the two horses who finished just ahead of him, Smokin Beau and Seven No Trumps.

In a wide open race, Technician, a winner at York last month, and the classy Indian Spark also make plenty of appeal, but Banjo Bay is napped to come out on top in what promises to be a fascinating contest.

Also worth watching at Ayr are the speedy Bella Chica (2.20) and the progressive Delius (2.50), while Marnor, trained by Mick Easterby, is also worthy of note in the Tote Ayrshire Handicap.

Although unplaced, the five-year-old ran well from an impossible draw at Doncaster last week and deserves another chance in this £25,000 event.

At Newbury, Misty Eyed will not be short of supporters in this £40,000 Dubai Airport World Trophy.

Lee Newman's mount deserves to land this valuable prize having looked an unlucky loser at Doncaster last week, when she just failed to beat Astonished and Autumnal after meeting trouble in running.

Mick Easterby's useful campaigner Pension Fund has strong each-way claims in the £75,000 Courage Best Handicap, while Aegean Dream, ultra consistent this season, should not be overlooked in the Dubai Duty Free John Musker Fillies Stakes.

In the £50,000 Dubai Arc Trial, Grandera, runner up to Sakhee in the Juddmonte International at York last month, is fancied to go one better and gain deserved reward for his consistency this season.

Quantity far outweighs quality at Catterick, which stages a typical autumn programme.

The promising Rheinpark (2.40) makes plenty of appeal in the hands of apprentice Keith Dalgleish, while Dance In The Day (3.50) comes into the reckoning on the strength of her consistent record this summer, which has included a brace of deserved victories.

Tomorrow's tips:

AYR

1.50 - Sophorific

2.20 - Bella Chica

2.50 - Delius

3.25 - Marnor

4.05 - Banjo Bay (Nap)

4.40 - Mumbling

5.10 - Ryefield

NEWBURY

1.15 - Makarim

1.45 - Misty Eyed

2.15 - Grandera

2.45 - Pension Fund

3.20 - Noble Academy

3.55 - Aegean Dream

4.30 - Halawan

5.05 - Blue Planet

CATTERICK

2.10 - Ballybunion

2.40 - Rheinpark

3.15 - Marking Time

3.50 - Dance In The Day

4.25 - Cotton Kid

5.00 - Distant Scene

5.30 - Jahash

6.00 - Madame Jones

Updated: 13:20 Friday, September 21, 2001