SCOTTISH football’s famous two horse race was more akin to a one pony canter in the last few years as Celtic added to their haul of Premiership titles.

Now, there is a green and white thoroughbred pulling away towards the finishing line while the chasing pack stumble over the early hurdles.

With Ronny Deila in the saddle, Celtic always looked like they had a slip-up in them but the odd draw or defeat throughout the campaign was never going to cost them the silverware.

Rangers, of course, were not there to take advantage and Aberdeen, who assumed the role of challengers, proved on more occasions why they couldn’t win the league than why they had an outside chance. It was never going to happen then, and it certainly won’t happen for the foreseeable future.

The Pittodrie crowd will undoubtedly have enjoyed the Dons’ renaissance under Derek McInnes in the last couple of years but their chances of another top flight crown left town when Deila packed his bags.

Scottish football was often criticised because the Old Firm fought it out for the silverware season after season but the Glasgow duopoly has become an East End monopoly. It is only Rangers that can reverse the status quo.

It is 30 years since Celtic won the Premier Division for the first time in three campaigns as they dethroned Aberdeen after they had lifted back-to-back titles following Dundee United’s triumph in 1983.

The silverware has resided in Glasgow ever since and it will continue to do so for some time to come. If Celtic continue on the current track, it won’t be shifting from the Parkhead trophy cabinet any time soon.

It has already been joined by the Betfred Cup this term and it would be no surprise if the Scottish Cup returned as well as Brendan Rodgers sets his sights on a Treble this term.

That would be a significant statement of intent from the Northern Irishman in his first campaign as boss and it would lay down the gauntlet for their rivals. It will be Rangers, even if they are not best of the rest this term, that have to pick it up.

The Gers are some way from being Premiership champions, they are further away now than they were at the start of the season when you take into account their ongoing rebuilding work and the remarkable impact that Rodgers has made.

But Rangers are the only side who have a chance of getting near Celtic on a financial footing and therefore translating that onto the park. Aberdeen and Hearts could give the Hoops a bloody nose, but only the Gers could deliver a knockout blow if they can get back to the level they are accustomed to.

That will take significant investment at Ibrox, though, and there is nothing at present that suggests next season will not be another trot to the title for Celtic.

Aberdeen had their chance to prove themselves at Hampden last weekend but once again didn’t perform when it mattered most as Rodgers’ side eased to victory.

A top three finish and a cup run doesn’t constitute a bad season for the Dons, and it wouldn’t for Hearts either, but neither have the capability to make an impression at the summit of the standings and to really challenge Celtic.

That is where Rangers come in. It certainly won’t be this season, though.

The gap between the top two was 15 points last term and it is unlikely that Mark Warburton’s side will get closer than that in the coming months.

If Rangers are serious about challenging under Warburton’s guidance next season, the foundations will have to be laid in January before another round of signings are made in the summer.

The Light Blues are far from being Premiership stallions at present but they are the only ones capable of emerging from the field and getting to within a nose of Celtic in the next few years.