Ratings Update: Brando earns another shot at the top

Despite a number of black-type races on Friday and Saturday last week, including the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, the standout domestic performance on Timeform ratings was recorded in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Brando’s one-and-a-quarter-length win under top weight from the well-treated Growl (remains on 114) is the best performance in the race on Timeform ratings since the turn of the century. Brando is now rated 126 (from 118) and would be right on the premises back at Group 1 level, with the likes of the Abbaye and the Champions Sprint both viable options for the remainder of the season. The latter is perhaps the most suitable target given the return to six furlongs seemed to suit him so well here (had done too much too soon last time in the Nunthorpe), and he would not have an awful lot to find with the top six-furlong performers of this season like Limato (129), Quiet Reflection (126), and Twilight Son (127) on the figures.

There was also a notable winner in the preceding handicap on Ayr’s Saturday card, with Morando now rated 114p after his win in a strong-looking handicap on just his fourth career start. He’ll be high on the shortlist for the Challenge Cup over seven furlongs at Ascot in a couple of weeks and could well make up into a group-level performer in time.

The Firth of Clyde Stakes was probably a substandard renewal, with a few of the likelier sorts (including the standard-setting Bletchley) failing to fire, but the winner Delectation took a big step forward on form nonetheless, improving some 20 lb on Timeform ratings. Delectation (now rated 101p) remains open to improvement and should stay seven furlongs.

Newbury’s Mill Reef card was unfortunately hit by plenty of notable non-runners due to the heavy rain that fell after the declaration stage, but there was a good opening to the card when Swiss Storm (92P) became the latest of Frankel’s progeny to win in maiden company. Swiss Storm is related to some smart sprinters but shaped as though he would stay a mile when scoring over seven furlongs on Saturday. A big, powerful-looking colt with a long stride, he is an exciting prospect for next season, but will be worth trying in a higher grade as a two-year-old, too, with the Racing Post Trophy a possible target according to trainer David Elsworth.

The next was a smart renewal of the Group 3 Legacy Cup Stakes, in which Algometer (119+) - not seen since finishing down the field in the Derby - dug deep to repel the late surge of Dartmouth (125). Both will be suited by a return to further while the winner, who relished the cut in the ground and the test of stamina at Newbury, will command respect next time under similar conditions and may well have more to offer.

Mokarris was a notable absentee in the Mill Reef and it wasn’t as competitive a renewal as normal (won last year by subsequent Group 1 winner Ribchester). That said the money really came for Harry Angel (113p) who proved far too good for some useful and more experienced rivals. An exuberant sort, he should prove best at sprint distances and is an exciting prospect, with the Commonwealth Cup a potential target for him next season.