History-maker Baron in new Ayr raid

Baron Bolt, who dead-heated for last year’s William hillayr Gold Cup, is one of 201 entries for this year’s race on 21 September.

The Paul Cole-trained six year-old created history by being part of the first dead heat in the £200,000 race at Ayr when he crossed the line with Irish-trained Son Of Rest.

Flying Pursuit, trained by Tim Easterby, and Michael Dods’ Get Knotted, third and fourth respectively in last year’s contest, are also entered. Kevin Ryan, who has trained four Gold Cup winners, has several entries, including Major Jumbo, who won the MBNA Queensferry Stakes, a Listed race, at Chester earlier this month.

Several highly rated threeyear-olds are entered, including Willie Haggas’s Victory Day, who won the Shergar Cup Sprint at Ascot last weekend, and Dave Dexter, who won last year’s Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr.

Richard Fahey, who trained the last three -year-old winner of the race in Don’t Touch in 2015, has several entered, with the six-year-old Mr Lupton, who has been running exclusively in Group races so far this year, an eyecatcher.

Mark Johnston, who is enjoying a terrific season, has entered Lake Volta while Stewards Cup runner-up Open wide from the amanda Perrett yard could also line up in the race next month.

Leading owners with horses entered include Khalid Abdullah (Vanbrugh), Godolphin (Major Partnership), Hamdan Al Maktoum (Enjazaat and Alkaraama) and King Power Racing (Vintage Brut and Donjuan Triumphant).

A field of 25 will go to post for the race with the next 25 highest rated running in the William Hill Ayr Silver Cup and the following 25 competing in the William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup.