SOME of the top trainers and jockeys in the country head to Ayr this week for the three-day William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival.

And the big race on Saturday looks certain to be the most competitive ever.

The massive southern yards of John Gosden, Andrew Balding and Charles Hills will have runners in the £200,000 race with Gosden’s Johnny Barnes among the favourites to capture the famous trophy.

And Ayrshire born jockeys Danny Tudhope and David Allan will have rides in a race they would dearly love to win. Danny is likely to ride Edward Lewis for trainer David O’Meara while David will be on Mattmu for Tim Easterby. The race is due off at 3.45pm on Saturday.

The Festival kicks off on Thursday with Doonside Cup Day with the feature race of the same name certain to be one of the highest class races ever run at Ayr.

The Class 1 Listed Doonside Cup has attracted 20 entries and runners on the day could include Mark Johnston’s Frankel colt Frankuus and The Queen’s Michael Bell trained Fabricate.

On Friday there are two Class 1 Listed races – Shadwell Stud/EBF Stallions Harr Rosebery Stakes and the brand new Al MaKtoum Cup Arran Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes.

The latter sees Dumfriesshire trainer Iain Jardine saddle Mayleaf Shine a recent Haydock winner - with Jimmy Sullivan taking the mount while last year’s Harry Rosebery winner Clem Fandango also runs for Keith Dalgleish and Phillip Makin.

This year’s Harry Rosebery has some interesting entries including Newmarket raider Corinthia Knight running in the Ontoawinner colours made famous by the 2015 Rosebery winner Quiet Reflection.