Fozzy Stack's Son Of Rest dead-heated with Baron Bolt 12 months ago to end the barren spell of runners from across the Irish Sea.
Now the Ger Lyons-trained Buffer Zone heads to Scotland on the back of a convincing victory over 23 rivals in a valuable six-furlong handicap at the Curragh last Sunday.
The four-year-old picked up a 5lb penalty for that success to encourage Lyons to seek another big win in the UK after Mustajeer won the first £1million Ebor at York last month.
Kevin Ryan is two-handed with Major Jumbo, drawn 20, and Hey Jonesy (eight) as he seeks a fifth win in the race.
"Brando won an Ayr Gold Cup and you can see what he went on to do afterwards," the Hambleton handler told Racing TV. "It's such a condensed handicap these days and you need a Group horse to win it. I went for stall eight with Hey Jonesy. He's in good form, he's been freshened up nicely for this race. Major Jumbo is a very fast horse. The drying ground would be a bit of a concern for him. The track is in great shape but he does like a bit of dig in the ground.
Major Jumbo is second top-weight behind Mr Lupton, who was the last horse out of the hat. The six-year-old, trained by two-time Ayr Gold Cup winner Richard Fahey, is pitched on the far rail in stall one.
Stablemate Growl was the first horse drawn and has stall 18. Fahey's other runner George Bowen will run from stall 19.
David O'Meara has a team of five as he attempts to follow-up his victory with Louis The Pius in 2014.
The North Yorkshire handler has Gulliver (nine), Summerghand (13), Intisaab (seven), Arecibo (17) and Cold Stare (11).
