The Bool’s Jericho Cup attracts 36 entries

Australia’s longest flat race to be run through the paddocks of Warrnambool has attracted 36 nominations.

The $300,000 Jericho Cup over 4600m will be run on December 2 for highweight riders and raced over the Grand Annual Steeplechase course as well as the course proper.

The Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses and commemorates the light horse involvement in the first World War in the Middle East and is scheduled 100 years after it was first run in the Palestine desert, just outside the city of Jericho.

Among the 36 nominations are three ballot exempt runners: the Symon Wilde-trained Doc Holliday who was successful over 3200m in Hobart on Melbourne Cup Day, the Anthony Freedman-trained High Mode who won the Riverina Cup at Wagga and Truly High who secured his spot winning at Moonee Valley last Friday.

A points system began on January 1, 2017 with the first three Australasian-bred horses to finish in any Australian 3000-metre flat race receiving three, two or one point depending on their finishing order.

Of the nominations, 14 horses have earned points including Grand Annual winner Gold Medals who accrued nine points, and are guaranteed a start.

Lonely Orphan secured the last available three points for Tamworth trainer Lesley Jeffriess with her win in the final qualifying race at Grafton over 3120m on Monday.

The final field of 12 plus four emergencies will be declared next Tuesday.