Haydock and 32Red step in to salvage Gold Cup after cancellation

A replacement for the Ayr Gold Cup will be run this year a week late after Haydock and 32Red stepped in to salvage something from the Western meeting fiasco.

The BHA has sanctioned what will in effect be a new race at Haydock on September 30, with the contest set to sport a different title and entries. It will also be limited to a maximum field of 17, compared to the 25 declared originally.

Full details will be announced on Monday, but the race will be a 6f handicap and shown on ITV Racing, just as the Ayr feature was set to be. It is understood the new race will be the fourth race on what was a seven-race card, with two races featured on ITV.

32Red sponsored this month's Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock but was not due to back any races on what is billed as a real ale day at Haydock.

A BHA spokesman said: "The BHA is grateful to Jockey Club Racecourses, the new sponsors 32Red and the Horserace Betting Levy Board [HBLB] for their contributions to saving this important and historic race."

Kirkland Tellwright, north-west head of racing for Jockey Club Racecourses and clerk of the course for Haydock, said: "We're pleased to be able to support horsemen and host the Ayr Gold Cup at Haydock Park following the unfortunate abandonment of the fixture.

"32Red sponsors a number of major races at Jockey Club Racecourses and we’re delighted that they have been able to lend their support to this special race.

"Our TENsational Finale Day next Saturday is an exciting card with plenty of top-class runners lining up."

There were suggestions that either Hamilton, which races on Monday, or Musselburgh, which races on Sunday October 1, might be able to keep the race in Scotland. There were two major stumbling blocks, however.

Hamilton has a reduced safety limit on its 6f track, down to ten on Monday from the usual 16. Musselburgh's problem was more obvious: the East Lothian course only has a 5f straight course so could not accommodate the race next Sunday.

Gold Cup sponsors William Hill, in a joint statement with Ayr, said: "Both Ayr racecourse and sponsors William Hill are disappointed that the race could not be staged this year either in Ayr or Scotland.

"We wish Haydock Park the best of luck for next week’s replacement race and we look forward to returning to Ayr for the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup next year."

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