Gallant Oscar was last seen finishing third to The Druids Nephew at the Cheltenham Festival. McCoy is instead set to ride Benvolio for Paul Nicholls.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “Paul Carberry will ride Gallant Oscar but the horse won’t run at all if the ground dries out too much. It’s fine at the moment but it is drying.”

Meanwhile, Dianne Sayer believes fate could play its part when Baileys Concerto goes for glory at the weekend.

The nine-year-old was denied what the trainer described as “the chance for a miracle and the chance of a fairytale” after missing the cut by one for the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree last weekend.

The situation was particularly heartbreaking as just over two hours after Baileys Concerto was eliminated as first reserve on Friday morning, Carlito Brigante was declared a non-runner.

Sayer has dusted herself down and is eyeing swift compensation north of the border this weekend.

“We’re very hopeful we’re going to make to Ayr on Saturday. That is most definitely the plan and at least we don’t have to worry about whether he’ll get in or not,” said the trainer.

“Last weekend was very disappointing, but you get over these things and move on and maybe it happened for a reason.”