HE may have his concerns, but David O’Meara has declared Watchable for tomorrow’s Ayr Gold Cup - and the four-year-old is likely to go into the big handicap as the favourite.

The son of Pivotal bagged £75,000 last weekend when striking on Irish Champions weekend at The Curragh and the Nawton trainer had reservations about whether this six-furlong cavalry charge might come too soon.

“I haven’t decided whether Watchable runs yet,” he said, earlier in the week.

“He’s come back from Ireland fine, and he seems well in himself.

“He’s only really had this season as a racehorse though and he’s already done quite a bit. He’s going to be a very good horse. We’ll decide nearer the time.”

Well, when the final declarations came out, Watchable was still in the field and he is set to race from stall five.

Should he have a change of heart, however, O’Meara has other arrows to fire at the race, which is dominated by North Yorkshire trainers.

Highland Acclaim, a winner at Ascot and Newmarket last month, is a fancied 12-1 in the betting, while six-time winner Louis The Pious is also in the 27-strong field.

It’s a line-up that sees Sutton Bank trainer Kevin Ryan run four as he seeks to win the contest for a fourth time.

Captain Ramius, the champion two years ago, is joined by Hamza, York Glory and former Gimcrack Stakes winner Blaine.

“Blaine’s in great form and is on an upward curve,” Ryan said. “He comes into the race on the back of a very good win. He’ll love the fast ground.

“I thought York Glory would run very well in the Portland and then he disappointed us. He’s struggling to find his form, but if he did come back to himself he’d be dangerously well handicapped.

“Amy (Ryan, daughter), rides Blaine. She gets on great with him. She’s won two good races on him this year so there’s no reason why she shouldn’t ride him.”

It will be the last hurrah for the eight-year-old Captain Ramius, who will be retired following the contest, as long as the weather doesn’t get in the way.

“He’s been a very good horse and if there’s a downpour he could still run, but the main thing is that he retires sound,” Ryan added.

Malton trainer Richard Fahey likes nothing more than to grab winners at the Western Meeting and Alben Star, the second favourite for the Gold Cup, will start from stall seven following the draw.

He will be joined by Ballesteros, Supplicant, Eastern Impact and Rene Mathis while Racy represents Norton colleague Brian Ellison and Fast Shot goes for Great Habton’s Tim Easterby.

VICTORY for one of Ryan’s quartet would cap off an amazing week for the Hambleton handler, which started with The Grey Gatsby toppling Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

“I’ve decided from now on I’m going to let the horse do the talking, he doesn’t need me to talk him up any more,” was the trainer’s verdict after the three-year-old caused one of the shocks of the season when seeing off the Dual Derby winner.

The Grey Gatsby’s achievements - he has also won the Dante Stakes at York and the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in a wonderful season - have been somewhat under-rated by many but, with the colt definitely staying in training next term, there is no doubt he is a huge star.

He could face off against Australia once more in a final decisive clash in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 18 but let’s not get too excited yet - soft ground would rule him out of the mouth-watering clash.

“He’s come back absolutely fantastic, very fresh and well,” said Ryan of The Grey Gatsby’s Irish exploits.

“He only lost six kilos all weekend which is quite incredible when you think about it, the race obviously took very little out of him.

“It’s not a given that he runs at Ascot, the ground could have gone soft by then. He’s getting better with every race and I’d love to go to Ascot, but it’s all about next year with him. I’m convinced he’ll get a mile and a half next year, the French Derby is nearly 11 furlongs anyway.

“If he doesn’t run at Ascot, that will be it and he’ll start off next year in the Dubai Duty Free.”