Ascot Gold Cup runners, ratings and key trainer quotes: David Jennings' pinstickers' guide

A field of eight runners will go to post for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday. Our runner-by-runner guide has top quotes and star ratings for the big race live on ITV at 4.20pm.

1 Coltrane

DJ's view: Second in 2023; fifth in 2024; first in 2025? Don't be daft. It will be third time unlucky for this lovable stayer. He would need a career-best to win and looks to be regressing rather than progressing. Not for me

Star rating: **

Coltrane16:20 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: Andrew Balding

2 Dubai Future

DJ's view: Might appear alongside Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Heyes for the fashion segment on ITV given the various headpieces he has on as a hood now accompanies cheekpieces. He's the third highest-rated runner with a mark of 116 but I wouldn't back him at 400-1, never mind 40-1. Stamina query to answer among other questions

Trainer view: Saeed bin Suroor: "He won two good staying races out in Dubai, but this distance will be something new. He has been working well and, if he can relax during the race, it will hopefully give him a chance of staying."

Star rating: *

3 Sweet William

DJ's view: Ultra-consistent stayer who always runs his race. The cobwebs were blown away in the Yorkshire Cup in which the sedate pace wouldn't have suited. His last trip to Ascot brought the best performance of his career when second to Kyprios in the Long Distance Cup. Place prospects again here

Trainer view: Thady Gosden: "He ran well to be third on his comeback in the Yorkshire Cup and has since enjoyed a racecourse gallop on the July course as part of his preparation and should make his presence felt again."

Star rating: ***

4 Trawlerman

DJ's view: Terrific trojan who keeps coming back year after year. Gunned down late by Kyprios last year and there is no Kyprios this year so you can understand why he is edging closer to Illinois at the top of the market. We know he stays; we know he's pretty darn good; we know he's straightforward; we know he likes Ascot; we know everything you need to know. Wins unless the totally unexposed pair of Candelari and Illinois are top class. One of those might just be, though

Trainer view: John Gosden: "He stays the two and a half miles and will run in his usual style, making it a test for everybody else. This is still a good Gold Cup, even without Kyprios, and will take plenty of winning. You need a horse who gets the trip, which we know Trawlerman does."

Star rating: ****

5 Wonder Legend

DJ's view: Has come a hell of a long way in a very short space of time. It was only February when he was beaten in a Kempton handicap off 86 and now two runs later he's tackling a Gold Cup. Two recent all-weather wins were tasty, but this is a whole new level altogether. Likely to be outclassed

Trainer view: James Ferguson: "We’re throwing him in the deep end a bit, but I think he’s earned his right to be there. He’s proved he’s turning into a proper stayer and he’s in great form. If he settles I think he’ll be finishing strongly."

Star rating: *

6 Yashin

DJ's view: I was all over him for the 2023 Ebor, the day he was locked up with nowhere to go for almost the whole of the York straight. As you can tell, I still haven't got over it. Has since moved from Jessica Harrington to Michael Bell and shocked me in the Sagaro but that was a funny race and this is a different ball game. Michael Bell knows what it takes to win a Gold Cup but this guy is more a mandarin than a Big Orange

Trainer view: Michael Bell: "He won the Sagaro Stakes at the track, which was a 'win and you're in' race for this, last month and he's been in flying form at home since then. Obviously he has an extra half mile to cover but he shapes as if he should get it and we expect him to outrun his odds."

Star rating: *

7 Candelari

DJ's view: Allez les Bleus! Your 2025 Gold Cup winner. It's a guessing game as to whether he will stay two and a half miles but my guess would be he'd stay four and a half. If he were human, he would be heading to a house party at 3am after dancing the night away in a nightclub. The longer a race goes on, the more lively he becomes. What he did inside the final furlong of the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier last time was quite extraordinary. It looked sure to be a blanket finish with two lengths separating about seven of them, but he ended up winning by clear daylight. That's the day he won me over. Take the 7-2 and thank me later

Trainer view: Francis Graffard: "I think good ground is perfect for him, he’s in top form and he has proved himself to be one of the best stayers in Europe. I don’t see why he shouldn’t stay the trip, he has the right attitude and he lengthens. We're very keen to give it a go."

Star rating: *****

8 Illinois

DJ's view: Punters seem to think it will be a seamless substitution. Illinois was immediately installed as favourite after Kyprios was retired and you can understand why as he's the new kid on the block who is unexposed over marathon trips. Last year's St Leger runner-up oozed class at Chester in the Ormonde Stakes but he has another six and a half furlongs to cover here. Classiest horse in the race but I'm not sure whether he is going to be the strongest stayer

Trainer view: Aidan O'Brien: "He has slotted in for Kyprios and everything has gone well in the build-up. We were delighted with him at Chester as we felt he would come on a lot for it. He stays very well but he's got a bit of class to go with it, and that's what you need in a Gold Cup. You never know for sure whether they will stay the Gold Cup trip until you try it. Once you go beyond two miles, you're entering unknown territory. We'll find out at the same time as everyone else, but we always thought he'd stay."

Star rating: ***

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DJ's Gold Cup verdict: 1-2-3 prediction

1 Candelari 

2 Trawlerman

3 Sweet William

Candelari16:20 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Mickael Barzalona Tnr: F-H Graffard

• 4.20 Royal Ascot (Thursday, June 19): Ascot Gold Cup racecard and betting

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