King warns fast going would scupper Trueshan's clash with Stradivarius next week

Ground conditions are once more set to play a major role in the clash between Trueshan and Stadivarius as Alan King has ruled his horse out of running on fast going for the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York next week.

"If it's quick ground we don't run," Trueshan's trainer said on Wednesday. "It depends entirely on the weather so we'll have to see what the forecasts are ahead of it."

The two staying superstars have avoided meeting so far this season, with Trueshan first missing the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on good to firm ground before Stradivarius was withdrawn from the Goodwood Cup following heavy overnight rain.

The pair are slated to meet for the first time since Ascot last October in Friday's Group 2 Lonsdale Cup, a race Stradivarius has won twice before.

Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes entries and betting

Trueshan came out on top in their Ascot encounter in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day and, after claiming Stradivarius's Goodwood crown in his absence two weeks ago, he is ready for another crack at Gosdens' superstar at York.

King said: "He came out of his last race in very good order, he's doing well, did his first bit of strong work since Goodwood this morning and we're extremely happy with him at the moment.

"It's hard to know what would've been with Stradivarius at Goodwood. I don't like to speculate, we simply did what we had to that day and that's all you can ask of a horse.

"After Ascot last year we were very hopeful coming into this season with Trueshan, but we had a very difficult spring because it was so dry and we couldn't start him off anywhere we wanted to. We've always felt on the right going he's a high-class horse, but he is so ground dependent."

Trueshan: won the Long Distance Cup in October with Stradivarius only 12thCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The going at York ahead of next week's Ebor Festival is currently good to soft, good in places, with York racing manager Anthea Leigh hopeful about maintaining conditions.

Leigh said: "It's tricky to know for sure as we're still a week out. The going is currently good to soft, good in places through natural rainfall and it's predominantly dry throughout the rest of this week until Sunday and Monday, where it may get wetter.

"We'll just have to keep an eye on it as it's impossible to call at the moment, but it doesn't look as if we're going to be on either extreme. The course is in great condition and we're very pleased with it."

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