'It should be chaos' - 74 go to post in the annual Mascot Gold Cup at Wetherby

After the thrills and spills of the Scottish, Irish and Grand National during April, spectators at Wetherby's Sunday meeting are set for a further treat as 74 mascots go to post for the annual Mascot Gold Cup.

Sponsored by Poundland and run in aid of Sue Ryder, a palliative, neurological and bereavement support charity, the race will be run over six fences in the final furlong at Wetherby ahead of the North Yorkshire track's first Flat meeting of the season.

With prizes on offer for the best mascot in parade, most entertaining mascot, best fundraising mascot for Sue Ryder, as well as the first three and last home, the race is bound to deliver in-running carnage.

Mr Potato Head, Lego Man and Peter Rabbit are among the names in the lineup, which will also include Wetherby's clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson's daughter.

Sanderson said: "It should be chaos. We’ve got some hay bales and put them in various places in the last furlong. Hopefully the handicapper has it right and it’ll be a blanket finish!

"I’ve got my daughter running in it so we’ll see how she gets on, she’s Tony the Pony!"

Although the 74-runner field is not quite the world record effort of 125 mascots that went to post in 2015 at the same track, the quirky furlong dash will still provide a challenge to commentator Darren Owen.

Owen, who was part of the BBC Radio 5 Live team covering the Grand National earlier this month, said: "Calling 40 horses in the Grand National is one thing but identifying 74 mascots in this race is quite another! I went to print out the card and I ran out of paper!"

All of the mascots have paid a £40 entry fee to Sue Ryder to take their place in what will undoubtedly be a competitive affair, and if you would like to donate, there is more information on the Sue Ryder website.

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