racing_news/

Our Jonathan Takes Gold at Ayr
17/09/11

1 Our Jonathan 11/1
2 Eton Rifles 6/1F
3 Son Of The Cat 18/1
4 Colonel Mak 16/1
NR: Group Therapy
26 ran Distances: 2l, 1½l, nk
TIME 1m 15.35s (slow by 5.05s)

Our Jonathan gave owner Dr Marwan Koukash back-to-back victories in the William Hill Gold Cup at Ayr.

Our Jonathan
© Racehorse Photos

Trained in North Yorkshire by Kevin Ryan, the four-year-old had long promised to deliver in a big race, and could be called the winner from some way out. Sent off an 11-1 chance, Franny Norton elected to go to the far side from his middle draw in stall 12, and it was to prove a shrewd move.

His mount hit top gear approaching the last of the six furlongs and strode out powerfully, with two lengths the margin of victory over heavily-backed favourite Eton Rifles, who led home the runners on the stands rail.

Son Of The Cat, who also raced on the far side, was one and a half lengths back in third, with Colonel Mak fourth home from the near side.

A delighted Norton, a veteran of the weighing room, said: "I've been on two horses in the past that I've been meant to ride and they have gone on to win, so this is great. This horse is special to Marwan too, so it's double delight really."

Ryan said: "He has been threatening all season, but he has been gradually coming to hand all the time and he has really been sparkling in the last 10 days.

"When the ground came as testing as it is, I was pleased because he has form over seven furlongs and for a race like this you need a staying sprinter. We really had him in good order and I wasn't really concerned about the draw."

Koukash said: "It is great to win the race again. He is a very good horse, he had good form as a two-year-old - he lost his way a bit last season, but he is now back to his best. There is a seven-furlong race at Ascot which is a possibility, Redford won it after this race last year, and then there is a Listed race at Doncaster on the last day of the season.

"Franny rode the horse very well at Chester and he has missed out on this race on a couple of occasions, so it is great to give him a big winner."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Our Jonathan K A Ryan	F Norton 9st 6lbs	11 - 1 Winner
2	Eton Rifles D R C Elsworth	T E Durcan 9st 3lbs	6 - 1 2 lengths
3	Son Of The Cat B Gubby	S De Sousa 9st 0lbs	18 - 1 1 1/2 length
4	Colonel Mak T D Barron	Lee Newman 9st 0lbs	16 - 1 Neck
5	Pastoral Player H Morrison	D Holland 9st 4lbs	18 - 1 Nose
6	Evens And Odds K A Ryan	Julie Burke 8st 13lbs	33 - 1 1/2 length
7	Croisultan L McAteer	N G McCullagh 9st 1lbs	10 - 1 1/2 length
8	Waffle T D Barron	P Makin 9st 6lbs	20 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
9	Tajneed D Nicholls	M O'Connell 9st 4lbs	25 - 1 1/2 length
10	Hawkeyethenoo J S Goldie	G Bartley 9st 5lbs	12 - 1 1/2 length
11	Regal Parade D Nicholls	Adrian Nicholls 9st 9lbs	12 - 1 Neck
12	High Standing W J Haggas	A Culhane 9st 1lbs	20 - 1 Neck
13	Majestic Myles R A Fahey	J P O'Brien 9st 10lbs	25 - 1 1/2 length
14	Ancient Cross M W Easterby	P Aspell 9st 1lbs	28 - 1 1/2 length
15	Breathless Kiss K A Ryan	Amy Ryan 8st 13lbs	66 - 1 1/2 length
16	Dungannon A M Balding	L Keniry 9st 0lbs	20 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
17	Light From Mars J J Quinn	D Swift 9st 0lbs	50 - 1 1 1/2 length
18	Kaldoun Kingdom R A Fahey	Lee Topliss 8st 13lbs	16 - 1 1/2 length
19	Anne Of Kiev J Gask	A Kirby 9st 1lbs	28 - 1 1 1/4 length
20	Castles In The Air R A Fahey	George Chaloner 8st 13lbs	40 - 1 3/4 length
21	Mayson R A Fahey	P Hanagan 8st 13lbs	14 - 1 1 3/4 length
22	Pepper Lane D O'Meara	D Tudhope 9st 4lbs	14 - 1 1 length
23	Brave Prospector R A Fahey	T Hamilton 8st 12lbs	40 - 1 3/4 length
24	Darajaat M P Tregoning	R Ffrench 8st 13lbs	40 - 1 1/2 length
25	Mac's Power J R Fanshawe	E Ahern 9st 1lbs	12 - 1 10 lengths
26	Below Zero M Johnston	F M Berry 8st 13lbs	28 - 1 6 lengths
NonRunner	Group Therapy T D Barron	D Allan 9st 6lbs	-