tuesday's Races
wednesday's Races
thursday's Races
friday's Races
saturday's Races
14:30Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
15:05Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
15:40King's Stand Stakes (Group 1)
16:20St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1)
17:00Ascot Stakes (Handicap)
17:35Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race)
18:10Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)
14:30Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
15:05Queen's Vase (Group 2)
15:40Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
16:20Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)
17:00Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)
17:35Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race)
18:10Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap)
14:30Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
15:05Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
15:40Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
16:15Gold Cup (Group 1)
17:00Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
17:35King George V Stakes (Handicap)
18:10Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)
Ascot Gold Cup
16:15 Royal Ascot
2021-06-17
Winner: £213016.93
Runners: 12
Going:Good To Firm
No. of hurdles:
Distance: 2m3f210yy
Odds Comparison
View Race Tips
The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group 1 contest run over 2m4f. It takes place at 16:20 on Thursday 17th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2021. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
Sort by Saddle Number
HORSE
Sort by Horse Name
ODDS
Sort by Best Odds
JOCKEY& TRAINER
Sort by Trainer
AGE
Sort by Horse Age
WGT
Sort by Weight
OR
Sort by Official Rating
RPR
Sort by Racing Post Rating
6(7)
131-33
Twilight Payment
-
J: Tom Marquand
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
8
128
116
128
Can front-run; unraced on testing ground for long time but he has won on heavy; he's the oldest in this field and has seen the most action but the great majority of his 33 races were at 1m6f and what he's done over 2m, including winning the 2020 Melbourne Cup, makes this sort of trip an appealing proposition; set to leave this season's form behind him and could go very well.
4(8)
1270-1
Stradivarius
-
J: Frankie Dettori
T: John & Thady Gosden
7
128
125
137
The top stayer of recent seasons and a rival for his jockey as the great showman, with the way he delivers his late challenges and keeps coming back for more; beaten only twice (both here in October) from 14 starts at 2m+ and won the last three Gold Cups, by a jaw-dropping 10l last year for a career best, notwithstanding the less competitive field on soft; won reappearance here (good to firm) in April and looks sure to raise his game as usual in his bid to join Yeats as the only horse to win the Gold Cup four times.
1(9)
23-355
Nayef Road
-
J: Ben Curtis
T: Mark Johnston
5
128
111
128
Played second fiddle to Stradivarius last term in this race and the Goodwood Cup; creditable third to him here on 2021 reappearance but has since delivered poor performances in the Yorkshire Cup and Henry II; that casts a cloud and it's hard to see him winning even if back to his best.
2(1)
382-41
Rip Van Lips
-
J: James Doyle
T: Andreas Suborics
5
128
107
117
German challenger; needs big improvement but relatively new to staying races and has shown twice (on soft and good) that he is better over 2m than shorter; strode out very well to assert in Group 2 at Hoppegarten last time and may well be set for further improvement now that he tries 2m4f.
NR(10)
1811-2
Trueshan
-
T: Alan King
5
128
118
133
Unraced on firmer than good; smart over 1m4f-1m6f in 2019 and 2020 but a revelation when he put nearly 8l between himself and his rivals in the last 2f when trying 2m here (soft) on Champions Day last October; that made it 3-3 under Hollie Doyle, a perfect record they lost on reappearance at Chester (1m5f) but that too looked a very good run; 2m4f asks a tougher question and he can race freely but it's impossible to dismiss him given that October win.
3(6)
17-251
Spanish Mission
-
J: William Buick
T: Andrew Balding
5
128
117
130
Acts on good to soft but looks unsuited by soft; trying 2m immediately looked a good move last July and he won the 2m2f Doncaster Cup two months later, not in the strongest edition but he asserted in good style; dismissing Santiago so comprehensively in the Yorkshire Cup at York (1m6f) five weeks ago showed he has improved again; serious each-way claims.
11(3)
1144-7
Serpentine
-
J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
4
127
119
133
Set up a huge lead before the straight in last season's Derby at Epsom (1m4f, good) and nothing was ever going to bridge that; exactly how much he was flattered can still be debated because he probably needed the race at Longchamp in September, had excuses (slow start, 1m2f) when fourth in the Champion Stakes here and floundered on heavy going on reappearance (again 1m2f); a supplementary entry for connections who require the utmost respect and the Derby winner undoubtedly adds major spice but he has a lot to prove.
10(11)
134-42
Santiago
-
J: Seamie Heffernan
T: A P O'Brien
4
127
114
129
Unraced on firmer than good (2-2 on soft); last term he won the Queen's Vase here and a substandard Irish Derby, followed by creditable minor honours in the Goodwood Cup and St Leger; probably still below that form when second to Spanish Mission at York five weeks ago, which he may well come on from; connections know exactly what makes a Gold Cup horse but he needs to show something new for a leading role today.
9(13)
420-31
Emperor Of The Sun
-
J: Gavin Ryan
T: Donnacha Aidan O'Brien
4
127
113
124
Unraced on firmer than good (acts on soft); erratic form last year, clear best of those runs when second to Princess Zoe in a 1m4f Galway handicap; seen in a positive light this season over 1m6f in Group 3 and Listed race, winning the latter at Leopardstown with a below-form Twilight Payment in third, and he shapes as if he will be suited by at least 2m; a leap forward would be needed for a prominent finish today, though.
12(4)
7171-1
Subjectivist
-
J: Joe Fanning
T: Mark Johnston
4
127
117
127
Underperformed markedly in two of his major assignments last term but ended it with Group 1 win at Longchamp (1m7f, heavy); allowed some rope by his main rivals in Dubai Gold Cup (2m, good) in March but was never remotely threatened; those are his two greatest stamina tests and he's finished firmly in charge, galloping on strongly; it's 19 years since the last of his trainer's three Gold Cup wins but he's had the runner-up in 2019 and 2020 and this candidate should also give him a big shout.
7(2)
432-14
Amhran Na Bhfiann
-
J: Wayne Lordan
T: A P O'Brien
4
127
109
123
66-1 third in the Derby last year on just third start; flattered by that, given way the race was run, and there's been no hint of that form since, admittedly finishing lame on his only subsequent 3yo outing; his runaway reappearance win was in a maiden and he was no match for two of today's rivals when upped to 1m6f on latest start; now tries 2m4f and blinkers.
8(12)
-41139
Ben Lilly
-
J: Graham Lee
T: David Brown
4
127
92
109
Huge progress last September to early last month, including seven wins up to 2m on varied ground; however, seemed amiss on latest start and all that form is in handicaps, appearing to make this challenge way beyond him.
13(5)
114-94
Princess Zoe
-
J: J M Sheridan
T: Anthony Mullins
6
125
108
127
One of the revelations of last season, progressing from fair handicaps to grabbing the 2m4f Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp; fourth to Subjectivist there next time; looked on her way back in 1m6f Listed race six weeks ago but relishes soft/heavy, as well as a long trip, so probably needs plenty of overnight rain and she also needs to resume improvement.
RACING POST TIP
Twilight Payment
It's some buzz to watch Stradivarius and he is the thoroughly proven class act in this field but his superiority on current evidence is nothing like as big as his winning margin in this race last term and this promises to be a competitive renewal, with several rivals who are not so far off him on form and could take a step forward faced with this test for the first time. There is always the chance with him of trouble in running as well. Consequently, it may well prove better to cheer than to back him at the likely very short odds and an appealing each-way alternative is TWILIGHT PAYMENT. The Irish 8yo has been around the block even more times than Stradivarius but winning last year's Melbourne Cup reiterated what he can do over 2m and he's long looked a strong candidate for even further. Subjectivist, Trueshan and Spanish Mission are all major players, while the German-trained Rip Van Lips might just be a surprise package.