A trainer forgot to confirm his Ayr Gold Cup runners after staying up late to watch a horse be "robbed" of a win.
Jim Goldie viewed replays of Call Me Ginger's luckless second in the Portland Handicap until around 3am on Monday morning.
In the race, the previous day, the 20-1 shot encountered traffic problems as he tried to make progress. The six-year-old had also started slowly for 5lb claimer Amie Waugh, but finished well to get within half-a-length of taking the £51,540 first prize.
Goldie's horse and regular runner Sound Of Iona were in contention for Ayr's big race, however they will now take no part following the mix-up.
Call Me Ginger won the Bronze Cup, a consolation race for the £150,000 Gold Cup, 12 months ago.
"I mixed up the days in the week," Goldie said on Racing TV.
"The St Leger was on Sunday and we ran had trouble with Call Me Ginger. We got home at 1am and sat up watching re-runs until about 3am wondering how we got robbed.
“The confirmation for the Ayr Gold Cup was on Monday morning and I thought I was still on Sunday. I forgot all about it and so, unfortunately, Call Me A Ginger and a lot of his stablemates are not running. I’m sorry to all my owners and punters who follow such horses.”
The Ayr Gold Cup, sponsored by Virgin Bet, had 171 entries on Monday, with those that don't gain a place eligible for the Silver and Bronze events.
Scotland’s richest Flat race meeting is held over three days from Thursday.
“There will be other days and it’s a bit of karma because the year Dandy Nicholls forgot to enter his horses [the meeting in 2006], we won the Silver Cup with Geojimali," Goldie added.
"He’d never have won had Dandy entered and declared, so it’s swings and roundabouts. I'm very sorry. We all make mistakes.”
Erosandpsyche, second to star sprinter Highfield Princess in a Group 1 at the Curragh over the weekend, is Coral's 6-1 joint favourite for the Ayr Gold Cup. Recent Haydock winner, Khanjar, shares the top position in the market, ahead of the dual Stewards' Cup hero Commanche Falls at 9-1.
"Erosandpsyche won't be facing anything of the quality of Highfield Princess if he lines up in Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup, although in Khanjar he could be up against an improving William Haggas-trained sprint handicapper," said the firm's David Stevens.
