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Who made the cut? Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup

Richard Kingscote: gets the plum ride back on board Great Ambassador in the Ayr Gold Cup
Richard Kingscote: gets the plum ride back on board Great Ambassador in the Ayr Gold CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Richard Kingscote will be reunited with Great Ambassador in the Ayr Gold Cup (3.40) after the ante-post favourite was confirmed in a full field of 25 runners for Saturday's feature race.

The son of Exceed And Excel has been in flying form since moving to Ed Walker this year and has scored on his last two starts, landing a Newmarket handicap in August under Kingscote before an impressive win in the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York this month.

He was ridden by Tom Marquand on his most recent start but Kingscote will renew the partnership at Ayr with the four-year-old set to carry 9st 9lb in the £150,000 Virgin Bet-backed contest, the highlight of the Flat season in Scotland.

Stewards' Cup winner Commanche Falls, who also landed the Scottish equivalent at Hamilton earlier in July, will bid for another lucrative handicap victory, as will the John Quinn-trained Mr Wagyu, who landed the consolation race for the Glorious Goodwood contest.


Ayr Gold Cup field and betting


Topweight Summerghand drops back into handicap company following his eighth-placed finish in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup, while 2020 Royal Ascot winners Chiefofchiefs and Hey Jonesy are also among the declarations in an ultra-competitive field.

The Tim Easterby-trained Count D'Orsay, set to carry 8st 13lb, was the last horse to make the cut.

Boosala was among the ante-post market principals but was not declared, while Air Raid, Total Commitment, Rathbone and Royal Scimitar headed those eliminated at declaration time and will contest the Ayr Silver Cup (2.30) on the card instead.

Last year's Qipco Champion Stakes hero Addeybb will not bid for back-to-back wins in the Listed Doonside Cup (1.55) – in which ten have been declared – and will not run in the Legacy Cup at Newbury (2.50) either.

The multiple Group 1 winner has not been seen since finishing second behind St Mark's Basilica in the Coral-Eclipse in July and will have to wait a little longer for his next start, with a potential tilt at next week's Foundation Stakes at Goodwood mooted before defending his title on Champions Day at Ascot.

William Haggas said: "He's fine at the moment and has been working well. He's got an entry at Goodwood on Wednesday and officials have told me they've got some rain arriving at the weekend, so let's hope they get it. Let's hope he can be in for a profitable autumn."

Haggas will rely instead on Al Aasy, who returns following a gelding operation, and Ilaraab at Newbury in a field of five for the 1m3f Group 3.

Ten runners will contest the Mill Reef Stakes (4.00) at the Berkshire track including Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Gubbass, while eight have been declared for the World Trophy (2.15), which will see Portland Handicap winner Hurricane Ivor clash with the Queen's King's Lynn and Scarbrough Stakes scorer Khaadem.

Ayr Gold Cup runners and riders

SummerghandSean Kirrane (5)
Great AmbassadorRichard Kingscote
Commanche FallsConnor Beasley
GulliverJason Watson
Brad The BriefPierre-Louis Jamin (5)
Mr LuptonOisin McSweeney (7)
Snazzy JazzyLaura Pearson (3)
VenturousGary Carroll
FivethousandtooneGraham Lee
EdraakTheodore Ladd (3)
Sunday SovereignTom Eaves
PendletonClifford Lee
ChiefofchiefsLouis Steward
Mr WagyuJason Hart
MotagallyPaul Hanagan
Volatile AnalystCallum Rodriguez
AboveDaniel Muscutt
Hey JonesyMegan Nicholls
BielsaKevin Stott
PopmasterHollie Doyle
Just FrankPaul Mulrennan
Lexington DashJoe Fanning
LahoreRowan Scott
OstilioBilly Garritty (3)
Count D'OrsayDavid Allan


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Matt RennieReporter

Published on 16 September 2021inNews

Last updated 21:37, 16 September 2021

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