Rules heads Gold Cup contenders Long-time ante-post favourite Forgotten Rules has been declared among a field of 14 for Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup, but Clever Cookie will not run. Dermot Weld has repeatedly stated Forgotten Rules will only run if there is sufficient give in the ground but with clerk of the course Chris Stickels raising the possibility of watering on Wednesday evening, the Rosewell handler may be happy. Unfortunately for Peter Niven, though, he feels the ground is just too quick for Clever Cookie and he will not try to supplement recent victories at Chester and York. Another horse who is more at home when the mud is flying is Marco Botti's Tac De Boistron but he has been declared. Ed Dunlop supplemented Trip To Paris, the Chester Cup winner, despite him finishing second at Sandown to Vent De Force, who he takes on again. Aidan O'Brien runs Kingsfisher, a good winner of the Saval Beg Stakes, while Bathyrhon makes the trip over from France. Havana Beat and Scotland will run for Andrew Balding, while Mizzou will line up for Luca Cumani. Biographer, who will only run if the ground is suitable, Kalann, Simenon, Forever Now and Windshear complete the list.
