Top trainers with the lowdown on their fancied runners

2.55 NewburyAl Zubarah London Gold Cup | Handicap | 1m2f | ITV/RUK

There are Group 1 and Group 3 races on the card plus two Listed contests, but recent history suggests that this could be the place to find a star.

The London Gold Cup is invariably packed with progressive three-year-olds, lightly raced sorts who are considerably better than the handicapper is able to rate them, and it usually takes a smart effort to come out on top.

Among the last six winners Al Kazeem and Cannock Chase went on to score in Group or Grade 1 company and Time Test did so at Group 2 level, while in 2010 subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon landed the prize by four lengths from Monterosso, who went on to win the Dubai World Cup.

What connections say about six potential stars in the field

Time To Study

He is a lightly-raced horse with a lot of potential, we've always liked him. He won twice at the back-end at two but we always thought he would be better at two and better when stepped up in trip. We have been waiting for the right race and the right conditions. This trip will probably turn out to be a minimum for him but this is a good starting point.
Charlie Johnston, assistant trainer

Defoe

He has been ready to run for some time but we've been waiting for the ground to ease and it's nice the rain has come in time for such a valuable prize. He should relish underfoot conditions, the course will suit and the step up in trip is his favour. I hope he will run a very big race.
Roger Varian, trainer

Century Dream

He's the type of horse who is progressing well. He ran a very promising race on his reappearance at Sandown and he's in good form. I've been pleased with his build-up and the key thing is that he will like the ground.
Simon Crisford, trainer

Glorious Forever

He's a really nice horse and did well to win at two. He ran into a very well-handicapped horse of Mr Gosden's at Doncaster, he's improved for that run and he'll be suited by the ground so we're hopeful.
Ed Walker, trainer

Duke Of Bronte (Ryan Tate, right) sprang a 100-1 shock in a maiden at Newbury last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Duke Of Bronte

I was playing the long game and it speeded up! I didn't think he was quite ready to win like he did here last time. He has come on leaps and bounds in the last six weeks. He's a very nice horse and the handicapper has rated him fairly on what he's done, although I didn't expect him to get into this class and this sort of mark until the end of the year.
Rod Millman, trainer

I'vegotthepower

We're upgrading him a bit. I think he can win those midweek handicaps every week but it's quite nice to step him up to a better race.
Brian Meehan, trainer