The prospect of no Scottish-trained runner in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup now looks unlikely.
There was not a horse from a Scottish yard in the top 40 for Saturday’s big race, for which there will be a maximum of 25 runners, when the original entries were made.
That left the prospect of no Scottish representation in the country’s biggest Flat race for the first time since 1997.
However, after yesterday’s five-day declaration stage, Clem Fandango, trained by Keith Dalgleish, is now guaranteed a run if he attempts to become the first home-trained winner since Roman Warrior in 1975.
Clem Fandango is a 33-1 shot with the sponsors and, among the more fancied runners, Tommy Taylor (14-1) and Ice Age (16-1) are now also assured of their place leaving Naggers, who was cut from 20-1 to 16-1, as the best-backed horse in the ante-post market not to be certain of a spot in the field prior to Thursday’s final declaration.
Shanghai Glory is 10-1 favourite among the 184 still left in the race.
Those who do not make the cut for the Gold Cup will be eligible for the two consolation races run at the Western meeting, the Silver and Bronze Cups.
John Gosden, who has yet to win the Ayr Gold Cup, has Johnny Barnes for this year’s renewal. The trainer has also said that Jack Hobbs, the 2015 Irish Derby winner, will ready for a third shot at the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 21st.
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