Goldie forgets to confirm Ayr Gold Cup runners after mix-up

Jim Goldie admitted on Racing TV on Tuesday that a mix-up led to him not confirming any of his runners for the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday.

A total of 171 entries were left in the £150,000 showpiece on Monday, with runners who don’t make the cut able to contest two consolation races – the Silver Cup and Bronze Cup. In addition, owners whose horses are balloted out get their entry money back.

Proud Scot Goldie, who chalked up his 1,000th winner this summer, would ordinarily have left in several of his team, including Call Me Ginger, the Bronze Cup 12 months ago who would have been a leading contender for the Silver Cup after his unlucky half-length second in the Portland on Sunday.

The prolific Sound Of Iona, whose rating has jumped since entries for the early-closing race were made, would have also been a likely favourite for the Bronze Cup had that been her aim.

However, Goldie told interviewer Anthony Dunkley that he got in a muddle after the meeting scheduled for Doncaster on Saturday was switched to Sunday.

Goldie said: “Confessions. I mixed up the days in the week. The St Leger was on Sunday and we ran had trouble with Call Me Ginger. We got home at 1am and sat up watching re-runs until about 3am wondering how we got robbed.

“The confirmation for the Ayr Gold Cup was on Monday morning and I thought I was still on Sunday. I forgot all about it and so, unfortunately, Call Me A Ginger and a lot of his stablemates are not running. I’m sorry to all my owners and punters who follow such horses.”

He added: “Call Me Ginger has been busy and ran a blinder in the Portland, so it might not do him any harm. Maybe watch out for him at York and Ascot.

“There will be other days and it’s a bit of karma because the year Dandy Nicholls forgot to enter his horses [at Ayr in 2006], we won the Silver Cup with Geojimali. He’d never have won had Dandy entered and declared, so it’s swings and roundabouts. I'm very sorry. We all make mistakes.”

Sound Of Iona has been entered for two other races at the meeting. She's in the Listed sprint for filllies on Friday plus handicap over a mile on the Saturday.