Cappie forced to pull out of mascot race

We are sad to report that Cappie the Cat will be unable to defend his Ladbrokes SPFL Mascot Race title tonight after coming down with a case of feline influenza.

The Morton moggy was all set to attend Hamilton Park racecourse this evening but felt unwell this morning and has had to pull out just hours from the big race.

Last August, he outstripped the likes of Paisley Panda, Hoopy the Huddle Hound, and Broxi Bear to storm to victory ahead of Queen of the South’s Dougie the Doonhamer in second.

Roared on by staff members Andy Bryan, Mark Farrell, Alyson Fielding, Antonia Kerr, and Jonathan Mitchell, Cappie justified his status as pre-race favourite and lapped up the adulation of an appreciative crowd afterwards.

And he has vowed to return next summer in order to reclaim his crown from whomever takes gold in tonight’s event.

Image: Jonathan Mitchell