BRANDO enhanced Kevin Ryan's excellent record in the Ayr Gold Cup when keeping on strongly to deny well-supported favourite Growl in a race dominated by horses drawn low last Saturday.

Brando, who broke from stall eight under Tom Eaves, was the Thirsk handler's fourth winner of the race in the past 10 years, following wins for Advanced (2007), Our Jonathan (2011) and Captain Ramius (2012).

The Ayr Silver Cup was won earlier in the afternoon by Roudee, who had also broken from stall eight, and it was clear from an early stage, when the runners gravitated towards the far side, that those drawn high in the Ayr Gold Cup were at a disadvantage.

Growl, drawn six, finished second, veteran Hoof It was third from stall seven, while G Force fared best of those drawn in double figures, coming home fourth having emerged from stall 11.

Nameitwhatyoulike, representing in-form trainer Bryan Smart, was sent straight to the front from his low draw by acclaimed apprentice Adam McNamara and still held every chance as the field approached the final furlong.

However, the challengers were stacking up and Growl, the 4-1 favourite, was delivered with a threatening challenge at the furlong pole.

Brando, who travelled strongly in mid-division, was switched left to make his challenge on the far-side flank and he quickened sharply when asked, establishing a decisive advantage which he maintained to register an authoritative one-and-a-quarter-length success.

A delighted Eaves said: "I was happy where we were drawn and I wanted to be patient and get him switched off. It was all pretty smooth and he was class all the way.

"It means a hell of a lot to win a race like this. These big races races are not easy to win and it's brilliant. It's up there with anything I have done."

Brando had contested the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on his previous outing, when he came home in mid-division behind Mecca's Angel, and connections may yet be tempted to have another crack at the highest level with the progressive four-year-old, who put up one of the best performances in this race's illustrious history to defy joint-top weight and win from a mark of 110.

"This is one of the hardest races to win as it's so condensed now you need a 100-rated horse to get in," Ryan said. "One thing about this horse is that he was bringing proper good form into the race – that's what it takes to win this race, you don't win it with a handicapper any more."

Despite the apparent draw bias, the form has a solid look to it as Growl had shaped well when finishing placed in the Stewards' Cup on his latest outing, while Hoof It and G Force, both Group 1 winners, were well-handicapped based on the pick of their efforts.

Joe Fanning reached a landmark for the season when the Mark Johnston-trained Ravenhoe made all the running at Beverley on Tuesday, giving the Leyburn-based rider his 100th winner of the year.

Afterwards the Irishman said: "It's nice to do it for Mark and also for the syndicate of owners, who are very enthusiastic. He's a lovely horse who is staying well and hopefully can remain competitive."

A cracking couple of days are in prospect at Newmarket this weekend, and Malton trainer Richard Fahey is in a bullish mood ahead of Queen Kindly's next assignment, the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

While the favourite will be the Wesley Ward speed ball Lady Aurelia, Fahey gave his own glowing endorsement to big-race rival Queen Kindly, describing the daughter of Frankel as the filly of his lifetime.

“You’ve got to respect what they’re saying about Lady Aurelia, but Queen Kindly is different to what I’ve seen before,” said Fahey, leaving little doubt she is the best juvenile filly to have passed through his extensive Musley Bank operation.

“She’s got natural speed and a good mind. She always looked like a colt – strong, with a big backside – and is getting stronger and more professional. Everything is going well, we’ve had no issues and we’re happy.”

While impressed like everyone else with Lady Aurelia’s tremendous performance in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Fahey hopes the gap between the US filly and her British counterparts might have closed since June.

He said: “It was an awesome performance at Ascot, but she looked very strong and forward then and maybe we’ve caught her up a bit. We’ll definitely be taking her on, so we’ll see.”