Denman team abort Ayr raid
Denman is likely to head to Punchestown after being ruled out of Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National.
This year’s Gold Cup runner-up was due to carry top weight in the Ayr feature, but drying conditions in Scotland have derailed his challenge.
The Paul Nicholls-trained chaser is instead poised to be rerouted to Ireland, where is he is being aimed at the Guinness Gold Cup on Wednesday week – as long as there is cut in the ground.
Joint-owner Paul Barber said: “It’s disappointing as it looked a very good opportunity for him.
“But all the weather charts said there was not a drop of rain forecast so it was pointless waiting around.
“Even if Ayr watered it would have been good to firm whatever happened, so Paul wanted to tell everyone what we were doing in advance.
“We should hopefully be OK at Punchestown as they tend to get a lot more rain over there.”
Barber also said Grand National hero Tony McCoy is likely to ride Denman in Ireland.
McCoy finished second on the 10-year-old gelding at Cheltenham in March and is set to deputise for the injured Ruby Walsh.
“All being well, Tony should be riding,” added Barber.
“It should hopefully be another good day for racing.”
