The obvious feature race of Royal Ascot is Thursday’s Gold Cup, which for this year only will have the rather snappy title of ‘The Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen’s 90th Birthday.’ Not that catchy, on second thought.
This is an absolute classic of the flat racing calendar, and at a shade over 4,000 metres (2m 4f) it is clearly a stretch for the stayer, rather than the sprinter. First run in 1807, there has been a wealth of history since that we simply could not do justice to in 500 words here.
One thing is for sure: decorated trainer Aidan O’Brien will be looking for his seventh Gold Cup winner in the past decade. Along with regular collaborator Sue Magnier, the Irishman has Order of George, a colt bred from the legendary Galileo, as his standout contender.
The four-year-old romped home by some eleven lengths in the Irish St Leger in September, and returned to winning ways last time out at Leopardstown too. Following in the footsteps of Yeats, a four-time winner for O’Brien-Magnier from 2006-09, Fame and Glory and Leading Light, this is a horse that will take some stopping. Punters will find some solace in the fact that he is still odds-against – just – at 5/4 with bet365.
Best of the Rest
With the rest of the field at 8/1 bar, you get a flavour of the dominance expected from Order of George. The rest of the chasing pack are likely to be headed by Max Dynamite, a Willie Mullins charge who recently finished runner up in the prescient Melbourne Cup. This French steed has impressed on the flat since switching from hurdles, although he is yet to be tested over the 20f mark. Nevertheless, a win in the Lonsdale Cup in August was a nice indicator of his progress. The 9/1 from William Hill is a tempting proposition.
But an unimpressive showing in the BetVictor Henry II Stakes in May as a 4/7 favourite will have been enough to put many punters off, and the winner that day – Pallasator – was far more eye-catching. A seven-time winner, a triumph over 18f in September highlights the staying power of Sir Mark Prescott’s charge.
Should the going be good as expected then surely a lot of money will come in for Big Orange, who was impressive enough when finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup as a 33/1 hope and who is clearly improving with every run; not a form line of 7-5-2-3 is indicative of that. But as a former Goodwood Cup winner, trainer Mark Bell thinks there is more to come as he told the Racing Post: “The horse is in great form, and he is very effective on fast ground. He has won at the track. We are really looking forward to it. He is massive, a physically stronger horse this year and a bit heavier. He is a late maturer so should be better this season.”
The last horse of which we must mark your card is Mizzou, who came in from 25/1 to his current 10/1 with William Hill after claiming April’s Sagaro Stakes. He held off the claims of two more in the field here, Clever Cookie and Flying Officer, that day, and so has to come into consideration.
