Astonished, ante-post favourite for the Ladbroke Ayr Gold Cup, was left without a jockey yesterday after it was confirmed that Kieren Fallon will partner second favourite Grangeville in Saturday's race.
There had been speculation that the champion jockey would bypass the mount on Grangeville, with whose trainer Ian Balding he has a retainer, to maintain his partnership with last week's Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap winner.
But his agent Dave Pollington, who refused to comment on the speculation, said: "Kieren will ride Grangeville."
A spokesman for Astonished's trainer John Hammond added: "I don't know who will ride the horse but I expect we will know by tomorrow." Balding, who confirmed that Fallon would be on board in the £100,000 handicap, said: "Grangeville ran very well at Newmarket last time and is in good form now."
Astonished is offered at a best-priced 7 to 2 by the sponsors after Wednesday's highly-impressive victory but no fewer than 110 horses stood their ground at the five-day stage for the Scottish feature, which has a safety limit of 29.
Sprint-specialist trainer David Nicholls has Daylight In Dubai, Referendum and Wish List among the top 29, with Pepperdine, Zuhair and Cryhavoc needing one, three and four withdrawals respectively to get a run.
BETTING: Ladbroke Ayr Gold Cup - 7-2 Astonished, 8-1 Grangeville, 10-1 Pepperdine, Deep Space, Marsad, 16-1 Cryhavoc, Tajasur, 18-1 Harmonic Way, 20-1 Always Alight, Bon Ami, Cretan Gift, Ho Leng, Pipalong, 20-1 Royal Result, 20-1 Social Harmony, Zuhair, 25-1 bar.
Warring Kingdom has not finished winning yet after landing his third successive victory in good style at Musselburgh yesterday. John Berry keeps coaxing improvement out of the gelding who put up a useful staying performance under Francis Norton to beat Lady Confess by three lengths in the two-mile British Energy Electric Handicap.
