The lowdown as Gold Cup winners square up in Long Distance clash

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup | GR 2 | 2m | 3yo+ | ITV

Will we enjoy the best of Order?

A Gold Cup winner, twice successful in the Irish St Leger and placed in an Arc, there is not a huge amount missing from Order Of St George's personal profile.

But one big hole is a win on Champions Day, something he was unable to manage when a beaten odds-on favourite in the Long Distance Cup last year.

There were mitigating factors though: ground firmer than he'd like and just a 13-day gap after his third at Chantilly.

But on Saturday he will get the soft ground he loves and will have had 20 days to get over his fourth in this year's Arc.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: “He ran very well in it last year [when fourth] when the line came a bit too soon.

"There’s been an extra week between the Arc and Champions Day this time and that wouldn't be a disadvantage. We’ve been delighted with him all year and he looks to have very good chance. The trip will suit and he handles soft ground well."

Too much juice for Orange?

The last time Big Orange took on Order Of St George the result was a famous win in the Gold Cup.

But since then the Bill Gredley-owned six-year-old has been beaten in the Goodwood Cup and skipped Chantilly because of soft ground – and conditions are not going to be any better at Ascot on Saturday.

“He's very well and in very good form and hopefully will take his chance,” said trainer Michael Bell.

“On soft ground he'd run, but if it’s heavy ground I think he’s unlikely to show up. We all need a degree of flexibility over our decision-making as there's a storm around and they can do strange things. But it’s not my decision and will be down to the owners.

"We'll be thinking on our feet and seeing what the weather gods deliver. It promises to be a brilliant race but it'll be disappointing for all concerned if it's run in a bog."

Is Stradivarius streetwise enough?

The last horse to beat Big Orange was Stradivarius, whose Goodwood Cup win – albeit in receipt of nearly a stone – marked the three-year-old down as a major stayer for the future.

He went close when dropped back to a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger and will enjoy the return to two miles at a track where he has already won.

As a three-year-old, like Doncaster Cup winner Desert Skyline, he receives 8lb from the older horses. But no horse their age has won the race since it switched to Ascot from Newmarket.

Trainer John Gosden said: "He'll have the best of the ground as it’s the first race of the day and he goes there in good order. We know he stays well and he ran a great race to be third in the St Leger, in which he wasn't stopping.

"We know he likes the track, having won the Queen’s Vase, and he goes there with a good shout."

What they say

John Warren, racing manager to the Queen, owner of Dartmouth
It seemed to be the obvious race for him when the Queen doesn’t get many opportunities to see her horses race through the year, so we decided it made sense to supplement [at a cost of £18,000] for a race like this. Hopefully he runs up to expectation. He’s run some very good races at Ascot and obviously loves the track. He acts on any going. We still have no idea why he didn’t run well in the Irish St Leger last time but he came out of the race well. He’s a tough, hardy horse who we know stays well.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Duretto
I think he's a high-class horse. He won well last time and is going into the race fresh, which is a help. The question mark is the trip. I think he's got the class to mix it at this level but he has yet to run beyond a mile and five furlongs. His pedigree suggest he should stay and I hope that's the case.

Peter Niven, trainer of Clever Cookie
The ground will be grand for him. I’m glad it’s not being run on the inner track. I’ve had this in mind for him all year and I’d like to think he’s still capable. If Order Of St George runs to his best he’ll take some beating, but the conditions won’t suit Big Orange. So you can make a case we shouldn't be too far away. His RPR ratings show he's one of the most consistent horses in training over the last three years, and he was an unlucky second two in it years ago.

David Simcock, trainer of Sheikhzayedroad
It was a better run at Doncaster last time. Hopefully he can build on that. He likes Ascot, having won the race last year, and the one thing he does is handle all conditions.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Mount Moriah
He'll like the ground and step up in trip. He has winning form round Ascot but it's a big ask.

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