Confirmed runners and riders for Ayr Gold Cup as Persian Force misses Mill Reef

Bielsa and Kevin Stott will bid to become the first back-to-back winners of the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (3.40) after the defending champion was declared for Scotland's most valuable race.

The seven-year-old has not been successful since winning the £150,000 handicap last year and will face a full field on Saturday, with the runners failing to make the cut eligible for the Virgin Bet Ayr Silver Cup Handicap (2.30).

Recent Haydock scorer Khanjar heads the betting for trainer William Haggas, who landed the race in 2020 with Nahaarr.

However, Erosandpsyche was a notable absentee from Thursday's declarations after finishing runner-up to Highfield Princess in last week's Flying Five Stakes.

The four-year-old was second favourite for Saturday's handicap where he would have attempted to become the first Irish-trained winner since 2018, but is likely to head for the Renaissance Stakes on September 25 instead.

Ayr Gold Cup runners and riders

Commanche Falls Connor Beasley
Sir Dancealot Paul Mulrennan
Escobar David Nolan
Vadream Oisin Orr
Zarzyni Ben Curtis
Mr Wagyu Jason Hart
Documenting Jack Mitchell
Summerghand Daniel Tudhope
Volatile Analyst Callum Rodriguez
Popmaster George Downing
Bielsa Kevin Stott
Gulliver Jason Watson
Bergerac Tom Eaves
Khanjar Jim Crowley
Gis A Sub Shane Gray
Fivethousandtoone Graham Lee
Honey Sweet Clifford Lee
Chiefofchiefs Rossa Ryan
Motagally Dale Swift
Tinto Mark Winn
Lucky Man PJ McDonald
Admiral D Oisin McSweeney
Pendleton Cam Hardie
Juan Les Pins Andrew Mullen
Aleezdancer Rowan Scott

Persian Force will miss the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes on Saturday to leave a field of seven for the Group 2 contest at Newbury (2.50).

The July Stakes winner was second favourite for Saturday's feature race after finishing runner-up in two recent starts in Group 1 company.

The two-year-old holds an entry for the Curragh Goffs Million but will head for the Middle Park Stakes on September 24, where he could reoppose Prix Morny winner Blackbeard.

"Persian Force is going to go to the Middle Park," Richard Hannon confirmed on Thursday. "He's absolutely fine, he's won a Group two already and he's been placed in Group 1s, so now we're going to try and win one."

Sakheer: impressive winner on his second start

Sakheer: heads the market for the Mill ReefCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hannon will instead rely on the once-raced Wallop and Listed winner Shouldvebeenaring for Saturday's 7f race, with the Middleham Park colt seeking a fourth consecutive success under a first-time ride by Pat Dobbs.

Heading the market is impressive novice scorer Sakheer, who won by six lengths on his latest start and will bid to give Roger Varian his first Mill Reef success since 2019 alongside stablemate Charyn.

Adam Kirby and Clive Cox will seek back-to-back victories in the race with Heroism, after the jockey-trainer partnership combined 12 months ago to score with Wings Of War.

Rousing Encore and Mustajaab complete the field for the Group 2 race, with Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes winner Cold Case not declared by trainer Karl Burke.

Mill Reef Stakes runners and riders

Charyn Tom Marquand
Heroism Adam Kirby
Mustajaab Lewis Edmunds
Rousing Encore Paul Hanagan
Sakheer David Egan
Shouldvebeenaring Pat Dobbs
Wallop Richard Kingscote