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What they say: the big names on their chances in a glittering Gold Cup

Order Of St George returns to the Royal Ascot winner's circle after last year's Gold Cup
Order Of St George returns to the Royal Ascot winner's circle after last year's Gold CupCredit: Harry Trump

4.20 Ascot
Gold Cup | Gr1 | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

Aidan O'Brien, already the most successful Gold Cup trainer of the post-war era, is on the trail of an eighth victory in Royal Ascot's signature feature with Order Of St George, winner of the race a year ago.

The mighty Yeats won four consecutive Gold Cups between 2006 and 2009, while before Order Of St George's triumph 12 months ago, Fame And Glory and Leading Light also took the glittering prize back to Ballydoyle.

Since his three-length win in the race last year, Order Of St George has been beaten on four of his six starts, although those defeats included what was a arguably his best performance when he finished third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

At Leopardstown last month he landed the Listed Saval Beg Stakes, the same Gold Cup prep race he won last year.

"All's gone well with him since the Saval Beg," said O'Brien.

"He handles easy ground well – it was soft when he won the Gold Cup a year ago – but he has won on fast ground and over two and a half miles we don't expect it will be an issue."

Ryan Moore will be bidding for a third win in the race having been successful a year ago and also in 2013 on Estimate.

Pros
Convincing winner 12 months ago, an excellent third in the Arc and came through prep race in good style

Cons
Has misfired on a few occasions and quick ground might not be ideal

Orange will have public support, says Gredley

There is little doubt the likeliest winner of the Gold Cup is Order Of St George. There is equally little doubt the most popular winner would be Big Orange.

The Michael Bell-trained front-runner has become an immensely popular stayer, completing back-to-back victories in both the Goodwood Cup and Princess of Wales's Stakes across the last two years, both of which he has ended by tackling the Melbourne Cup.

At the age of six he produced one of the best performances of his career when galloping his rivals into the ground in Sandown's Henry II Stakes last time.

With Frankie Dettori sidelined, Big Orange now has a new jockey in James Doyle. He also faces a new experience, for this is his first attempt at the Gold Cup and his first excursion over the marathon trip.

"It's fantastic he has a fan club," said owner Bill Gredley. "He has touched an awful lot of racing folk. They need horses to support and it's nice they've picked him.

"We're going to find out if he stays the trip but we think he will and he won't be sent along at the sort of pace he runs at over two miles. He's always been going on at the end of his races – it's not as though he's been falling over the line exhausted."

Gredley added: "Frankie knows the horse well, so it's unfortunate he can't ride him, but James Doyle is an excellent substitute and capable of getting the fractions right."

Pros
Wonderfully game performer who tackles the Gold Cup off a big win

Cons
Front-running style means he always gives plenty, raising concerns about the trip

Beckett's Gold Cup wish comes true

Since Simple Verse won the St Leger, then lost it, then won it again, the Gold Cup has been her destiny. It has just taken a little longer to get her there than some might have liked.

Ralph Beckett's enthusiasm for running Qatar Racing's star mare in the sport's ultimate long-distance prize is well known, as is his firm belief Oisin Murphy's mount will have no trouble stepped up in trip beyond the two miles over which she finished third to Sheikhzayedroad at Ascot on British Champions Day.

Most recently she finished an excellent second to Dartmouth in the Yorkshire Cup, further boosting connections' hopes for this new test.

"I've been keen to run her in this since the day after the 2015 St Leger," said Beckett, who will be having his first runner in the Gold Cup.

"She's done her winning by outstaying the opposition, right back to when she won the Lillie Langtry. For that reason I expect her to stay the trip. Last year her owners were keen on sticking to a mile and a half, but I've always been keen on going for the Gold Cup – and outside of the Classic I can't think of a better race to win.

"Fast ground is an unknown but I think she's in better shape now than she was going into the Yorkshire Cup. That race has brought her forward."

Beckett also saddles Henry II Stakes third She Is No Lady, and said: "Her owners have wanted to run her in the Gold Cup since the start of the season. She's in good shape and her [40-1] price reflects her chance."

Simple Verse pros
Classic winner with the potential to improve further faced with her biggest stamina test

Simple Verse cons
Not guaranteed to stay, nor to be good enough to beat Order Of St George even if she does


What they say

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Nearly Caught and Sweet Selection
It would be brilliant to win but I'm a realist. Sweet Selection has won a big handicap and a Group 3 but now she's taking on Group 1 company. I'd be disappointed if she didn't stay, and I'm quite happy with the ground for her. It could be a bit too quick for Nearly Caught but he's the toughest, most honest horse I've ever trained and if he runs to the level of his Prix Kergorlay win he'll be in the money.

Laura Mongan, trainer of Harbour Law
It's hard to imagine beating the favourite but we expect a good run. Not much went right for him in the Sagaro, so we've drawn a line through that. We think he'll stay and we're sending him there in 100 per cent good shape.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Prince Of Arran
It will be a big ask but he put up a huge performance to finish second in the Sagaro and if he can build on that over the longer trip he'll have a good chance of finishing in the money.

Roger Charlton, trainer of Quest For More
He really comes to himself from June onwards and is one of the few horses in the race who has demonstrated a consistently high level of ability at a distance very few horses on the Flat stay properly. As such, that probably makes our choice of tactics fairly easy. If he’s on song it will take a top-class one to beat him.

David Simcock, trainer of Sheikhzayedroad
We know he stays two and a half miles from his run in the race last year. He's also very consistent. Your expectations of him are you know he's going to run a good race. Whether that's good enough, I don't know.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Torcedor
He's done everything right since we got him and shouldn't mind the fast ground. We're leaving off cheekpieces this time as the plan is to drop him in. He's very well.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Trip To Paris
He has a lot to do if he's going to regain his crown but we're happy with him and he seems to be in good form.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Endless Time
We were very pleased with her at York and she's come forward for the run. In an ideal world we'd like to see the potential showers turn up, but we're confident she'll see the trip out well.

Tony O'HehirRacing Post Reporter
Lee MottersheadSenior writer

Published on 21 June 2017inPreviews

Last updated 18:57, 21 June 2017

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