The Punchestown Festival received a major boost today with news that Denman is set to take his chance in the Guinness Gold Cup after being ruled out of Saturday's Coral Scottish Grand National this morning due to drying ground.

This year's Cheltenham 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 Punchestown next week where he is being aimed at Wednesday's Guinness Gold Cup, 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 okay 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 ten-year-old gelding at Cheltenham 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."

The Ayr race has lost another leading contender, with the loss of leading Scottish hope Silver By Nature.

Trainer Lucinda Russell told her website, www.lucindarussell.com: "Silver By Nature has chipped a bone at the back of his knee. He is lame and Hugh Sommerville, our vet, thinks that he needs six weeks box rest then a summer out at grass. The prognosis for full recovery from this injury is excellent.

"Silver By Nature has had a marvellous season, finishing second in the Welsh National and winning the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock. He will be aimed at the leading staying chases and the Scottish National next season.

"Whilst it is very sad for everybody today the important thing is that Silver By Nature should make a full recovery and he will be an exciting horse for us all next season. Obviously we are very disappointed but the plan will be to run in the race next year."