Architect Tips shares his preview and ante-post tips for the Ascot Gold Cup, the feature race on the third day at Royal Ascot 2022.
Ascot Gold Cup Winner
At the halfway stage of Royal Ascot, the most prestigious long distance flat race, known as the Ascot Gold Cup, takes centre stage on Thursday. Despite being beaten in the race twelve months ago behind Subjectivist, who has been denied the chance to defend his Ascot Gold Cup crown after being ruled out for the season, the veteran and brilliant Stradivarius is back for one more shot at the stayers’ showpiece in an attempt to land a record-equalling fourth win in the race and emulate Yeats.
This multiple Group 1 winner was expected to head into retirement last season but John Gosden decided to keep him in training after discussions with owner Bjorn Nielsen and the superstar stayer’ made a triumphant return to action in the Yorkshire Cup when gaining a 20th career success in which he made it a perfect six wins from six races at the venue, proving himself still to be the force of old despite his advancing years.
He moved sweetly into contention in the hands of Frankie Dettori and found plenty for pressure to see off Thunderous by over a length at the line. On the back of that victory he was cut into 4/1 for the Ascot Gold Cup and who’s to say he can’t break another record? If the ground doesn’t become soft or heavy, it will be all systems go for this ultimate racehorse, who should prove hard to beat if he gets his favoured good ground, which will no doubt see his turn of foot come into play in the latter stages too.
Alan King’s Trueshan, who loves soft ground, also returned a comfortable winner on his reappearance in the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham, in which he accelerated away to score by three lengths. After he ended the last campaign as the leading stayer’ in training after victories in the Goodwood Cup, Prix du Cadran and Long Distance Cup on Champions Day, connections will be hoping he gets his chance to showcase his qualities in front of the packed crowd having been forced to miss the race last year due to faster conditions.
The six-year-old is currently available to back at a best price 7/2 to take top honours this time round and that could seem reasonable closer to the time as his odds are likely to devalue if the ground swings in his favour at the time of event. Additionally, he’s two-from-two at the course having won the last two editions of the Long Distance Cup and what’s even more frightening is the fact he’s actually open to even further improvement given his age. He will, however, have come forward from his return and, in the hope he gets his suitable cut in the ground, he’s the one they all have to beat next month.
Aidan O’Brien, who will be seeking an eighth win in Thursday’s feature contest, has a leading fancy in the shape of Kyprios, who was made 7/2 joint-favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup after running his rivals into submission in a Group 3 last time that has produced multiple top-class winners such as Vinnie Roe, Media Puzzle, Yeats, Fame and Glory and the latest of those, Order Of St George. He was expected to pass the test with flying colours given how short in the betting he was for the race and that should have set him up beautifully for the Gold Cup.
The one who may have been underestimated in the market though is stablemate Cleveland, who was last seen winning the Chester Cup under a masterclass ride from Ryan Moore and a bid for Ascot Gold Cup glory at the Royal meeting next month is quite a possibility. Ryan took a brave route down the inside rail, always tracking the pace, before being angled out at the top of the finishing straight to eventually reel in Coltrane in the final stride. He’s best priced 16/1 for the race itself and while he’s unproven at the highest level and more will be required, he could be the surprise package.
Some punters may look to the Ralph Beckett-trained Scope for value, who’s experience of the course will count for plenty and he has developed into a classy stayer following wins in the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot and the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp. He ran well on his return to action when a neck second in a Group Three at Newbury and should have more in the locker this season. Whether he is quite good enough to beat two of the best stayers’ of this century is open to debate but he’s progressive and at a general 8/1, he may well advance his form on the biggest stage at the Berkshire venue.
Last year’s Derby and St Leger runner-up Mojo Star is pencilled in to reappear at Royal Ascot and while a decision hasn’t been made yet about what trip he’ll run over, he’s entered in both the Hardwicke and the Gold Cup. He encountered a busy campaign last year and looked as though he stayed well when a two-length second in the St Leger to the classy Hurricane Lane. He was disappointing in the Arc on his final start but perhaps he was feeling the effects of a long season and his effort can be best excused.
Everything has gone according to plan in regards to his training this season and there’s every chance he will improve both physically and mentally as a four-year-old given the size and scope he possesses alongside the quality form he has in the locker. I think Richard Hannon will lean to this race as all the talk about him as been about him developing into a stayer so if that does prove to be the case, his 14/1 price tag looks too big for a horse who’s clearly capable at the highest level with more to come.
At this stage, Willie Mullins’ has just the one surprising entry in the shape of former Triumph Hurdle winner Burning Victory. The Ireland maestro is always to be respected with runners on the flat, especially in these types of events and the last time he came close to winning this was nine years ago when coming within a neck of Gold Cup glory when his Simenon was narrowly beaten under Johnny Murtagh by the Queen’s Estimate in a tight finish to proceedings.
He’s yet to better that effort in the race since but this mare ran a blinder the last time she was seen in this sphere, where she only found Buzz too strong in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket. She’s been campaigned over hurdles since, competing at a high level and now that her stamina for marathon events has been established, she looks largely overpriced at a general 33/1 with a good chance of reaching the frame or causing a mini shock if the leading fancies fail to fire which can happen.
The most compelling intended runner is Earlofthecotswolds, for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies team. This five-time hurdles winner has been in fantastic form since he switched to the Flat, with two wins at Kempton and another at Newcastle when doing it the hard way from the front. Currently around 33/1 for the two-and-a-half-mile showpiece, he is a massive price and while this will require a huge career-best performance, he could go well for a long way and give his followers a run for their money with stamina very much his strong suit.
Princess Zoe, who’s available at 12/1, would have an excellent chance if given the green light on the basis that conditions are suitable. She returned to form by winning the Sagaro Stakes here last time and the runner-up, Quickthorn, boosted the form by scoring in a Group Three last week. Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan at 33/1 would have place claims on his best form, including his latest third to Stradivarius and his second to Trueshan last season but this is a deeper field and he could prove vulnerable.
Ascot Gold Cup 2022 Ante-Post Tip
In what promises to be an excellent renewal, a speculative vote goes to the lightly-raced MOJO STAR (best price 14/1). His confirmation hasn’t yet been confirmed but I think connections will run him in this race and he’s open to more improvement than most as a stayer. His second in both the Derby and St Leger read seriously strong form in the context of this event and he can be best excused for his latest effort when down the field in the Arc. He’s a giant of a horse, who’s best days are ahead of him and while this would be his seasonal debut, he’s a quality horse with so much raw ability and let’s not forget he was a half-a-length second to theManobo on just his second career start after an absence and the winner has developed into a high-class stayer’ himself. Richard Hannon’s Colt by Sea The Stars could be destined for great things in marathon events.
