Where's the sense in Gold, Silver and Bronze Cups as field sizes shrink?

Britain's ongoing preoccupation with big-field handicaps is a curious thing.

Races like the Lincoln would have made fascinating viewing in a heyday when Classic winners took their chance, often in receipt of weight from horses already proven in that domain. But those days are long gone.

The Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday was a prime example. The 24 runners were so much of a muchness that just 11lb (excluding penalties) separated horses at either end of the handicap. This precluded the possibility of a heroic weight-carrying performance, which was in itself the allure of these races.