Continent 'doubtful' for Ayr assignment

David Nicholls has warned that totesport Ayr Gold Cup leading fancy Continent may not run in the event of fast ground.

That the the eight-year-old, who won the race in 2001 and finished third in the Portland Handicap last week, could miss the Scottish feature adds further intrigue to an increasingly trappy encounter.

A massive 112 horses have been left in the race, but several of the market principals such as Fonthill Road and Texas Gold are far from certain to run.

Nicholls, who has won the Ayr Gold Cup four times in the last five years, revealed five of his other intended entries may also miss out.

“Continent is doubtful if it is firm ground, as are Ice Planet, Pieter Brueghel, Funfair Wane, Merlin’s Dancer and Native Title,” he told the Racing Post.

“We’ve got 40 horses going up to Ayr, with six hours of travelling and owners coming from everywhere.

“But if the ground isn’t suitable, I might not run any of them. They should be there given good ground.”