Take Marsad to upset hot favourite Astonished in tomorrow's Ladbroke (Ayr) Gold Cup. Astonished will go off a relatively short price for this competitive six-furlong handicap following a highly-impressive success in the Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap at Doncaster on his last start.

But the 7lb penalty the French-trained colt has incurred for last week's win may prove to be his undoing.

Marsad gets in the Ayr feature on a handy mark having not tasted victory since Doncaster in March when Jon Akehurst's five-year-old comfortably landed a 19-runner handicap on softish ground by two and a half lengths from Mister Rambo.

Not that this strong gelding has disappointed on his three starts since and has put up decent displays on his two most recent outings.

He finished fifth, beaten around two lengths behind Pipalong, on an easy surface, in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month.

Dean McKeown, his jockey that day, believed Marsad, who meets Pipalong on 8lb better terms tomorrow, would have won with a better draw.

Next time on unsuitably fast ground at Goodwood Marsad finished a three-length sixth behind Royal Result after being outpaced in the closing stages.

Following recent rainfall in the west of Scotland Marsad will have his favoured ground conditions tomorrow and, with McKeown in the plate again, is therefore selected to take this £100,000 contest with most to fear from Astonished and Pipalong.

Flak Jacket, second in Marsad's race at Goodwood last time, stands out as the day's best bet in the Ladbroke (Ayr) Silver Cup.

This speedy four-year-old, who acts on any going, is clearly returning to the useful form he showed when scoring at Kempton and Haydock last year and he is napped to regain the winning thread in this tough heat.

The rapidly-improving Flossy can maintain her progress with victory in the South West Saab Rated Stakes at the main expense of the useful stayers Top Cees and Silent Warning.

Following stylish wins at Leicester and Sandown Albarahin can complete his three-timer in the Courage Handicap at Newbury and judged on his fine third to Musician at Doncaster last week Alberich looks worth an interest in the Tote Sporting Index Autumn Cup on the same card.

Last year's Vodafone Derby winner High-Rise returns to action at Newbury on Sunday for the first time since flopping in the Dubai World Cup and he can stake his claim for a place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe line-up with victory in the Dubai Arc Trial.

A good second to Swain in the 1998 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, the son of High Estate subsequently failed to get a clear run in the Arc and has been plagued with niggling problems since finishing tailed off behind Almutawakel at Nad Al Sheba in March.

But the Godolphin team is in such irresistible form it is worth taking a chance with High-Rise to get the better of Fantastic Light and record his first win since his moment of glory at Epsom.

Knockholt can take Sunday's "Showcase" handicap, the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Stakes.

Sean Woods' three-year-old is at the top of his game having stayed on gamely to account for Mardani at Doncaster and looks a good bet to go in again.