Diamond set to sparkle on Ayr return

Course specialist Beautiful Diamond should prove hard to beat on her return to Ayr on Friday in a bid to defend her Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes.

Karl Burke’s five-year-old mare shone 12 months ago with a 2.5-length success and she certainly feels at home on the southwest coast of Scotland.

On four previous starts at Ayr, Beautiful Diamond has three victories to her name – one of those was a dead-heat with Azure Blue – and a third last time out.

The daughter of Twilight Son has stepped up to Group company this season and has not disappointed, finishing third behind stablemate Night Raider in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May.

She was only a length behind Argentine Tango in the Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes in June and Beautiful Diamond should be refreshed following her summer break.

Consistent sort Hickory Lad can finally land Listed honours in the British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes.

Philip Makin’s stable star has bumped into a couple of good ones in his short career, but already has two wins next to his name from seven starts.

Three of those have come in stakes company, most recently coming home in third by 1.25-lengths in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes during the Ebor Festival.

Remaining at 1000m is another positive for the James Garfield juvenile, who has never been outside the top two over the shortest sprint distance.

Jim Goldie’s Jordan Electrics may be 10 but is still a capable sprinter on his day and with a favourable draw, can go well in the Ladbrokes Bronze Cup.

Spy Chief can return with a bang in the Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes at Newbury for John and Thady Gosden.

Owned by Godolphin, he has been lightly-raced as a four-year-old, however, he did go down by a neck to Almeraq, who has subsequently won two Group One contests, on his reappearance in May.

He was down the field on his last start in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, but the Clarehaven duo have a knack of targeting races so this could be another, especially with Ryan Moore booked.

Goldolphin should already have been in the winner’s enclosure with Bin Jahwar in the preceding Haynes Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Ghaiyyath colt starred on his debut when breezing to an 8.5-length triumph on the July course at Newmarket last month.

William Buick replaces Billy Loughnane in the saddle this time around and he should be open to further improvement on his second start.

Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies have an interesting debutant over fences in the three-runner Devondale Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot.

A four-time winner over hurdles, Intosomethinggood has to defy top weight but should be too good barring accidents.

On the all-weather at Wolverhampton, Niffler can make it a four-timer since switching to longer distances for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris in the Black Country Mental Health 50th Anniversary Handicap. – Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

AYR: Race 1: 14.20 Motown Filly, Race 2: 14.55 Dontlookanyfurther, Race 3: 15.30 Hickory Lad, Race 4: 16.05 BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND (NAP), Race 5: 16.40 Jordan Electrics, Race 6: 17.15 Glorious Kitty, Race 7: 17.45 Up The Jazz, Race 8: 18.20 Cascade Hall.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 14.47 Hope In Havana, Race 2: 15.22 Sorrengail, Race 3: 15.57 Theheatison, Race 4: 16.32 Bin Jahwar, Race 5: 17.07 Spy Chief, Race 6: 17.40 Counter Intuitive, Race 7: 18.15 River Card, Race 8: 18.50 Law Court.

NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 15.02 Depalma, Race 2: 15.37 Fine Thing, Race 3: 16.12 Intosomethinggood, Race 4: 16.47 Broadway Honey, Race 5: 17.22 Kom Tu Voudras, Race 6: 17.55 Mr McWhinny, Race 7: 18.30 God Of Fire.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 17.02 Zorya, Race 2: 17.35 Perfect Hope, Race 3: 18.10 Based, Race 4: 18.45 Sanditon, Race 5: 19.15 Velvet Rhythm, Race 6: 19.45 Luan, Race 7: 20.15 Little Miss India, Race 8: 20.45 Niffler, Race 9: 21.15 Korbut.

ALL TO COME: Beautiful Diamond (Ayr, Race 4) and Bin Jahwar (Newbury, Race 4).