Ascot Gold Cup - 16:20 Thursday

2023 Ascot Gold Cup Runners Guide

Coltrane

The shortest price of the Ascot Gold Cup runners, Coltrane (3/1 favourite) made a successful seasonal reappearance when landing the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last month and he will bid for back-to-back victories at this meeting after landing the ultra-competitive Ascot Stakes over this course and distance 12 months ago.

Andrew Balding’s progressive six-year-old also landed the Group 2 Coral Doncaster Cup Stakes last year and only found Trueshan too good in the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup in October.

Coltrane remains unexposed over this trip and clearly thrives around Ascot. This race has been his target for some time and further progression remains a distinct possibility. 

Eldar Eldarov

The lightly raced Eldar Eldarov is yet to race beyond two miles and is yet to win beyond two miles and six furlongs. However, he looked like a true Group 1 performer when landing the Cazoo St Ledger Stakes at Doncaster in September and he is clearly open to further improvement.

The Roger Varian trained four-year-old won his first three starts and was sent of favourite for the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris on his fourth outing, when placing fourth.

Eldar Eldarov made a satisfactory return to action when chasing home Giavellotto at York last month and that race was simply a stepping stone to this contest.

He has often shaped as though a true test of stamina would be right up his street.

Emily Dickinson

No trainer can better Aiden O’Brien’s eight victories in this race and Group 3 scorer Emily Dickinson is Ballydoyle’s leading contender this year according to the betting (best price 6/1).

The experienced Dubawi filly made a successful seasonal reappearance in Listed company at Navan and was sent off a 2/5 favourite in Group 3 company subsequently. However, she was beaten three-and-three-quarter-lengths on that occasion.

Interestingly, her two most recent victories were achieved on heavy ground and her defeat at Leopardstown came on good ground.

That is arguably a factor that could go against Emily Dickinson. However, she is one of just two representatives for Aidan O’Brien and clearly warrants respect.

Courage Mon Ami

Courage Mon Ami rates a fascinating contender having won all three of his previous outings culminating with his turf debut at Goodwood, where he ran out a cosy winner of one-mile-six-furlong handicap.

An 8lbs rise to a mark of 106 still leaves the Frankel gelding with something to find with some rivals on official ratings. However, he really could be anything at this stage of his career and connections clearly feel that he is worthy of his place in this contest.

Like with many of these, the trip is an unknown and his lack of experience in Group company is a slight concern. But that may not prove a barrier to success if the requisite ability is there.

Broome

The battle-hardened Broome landed the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan during the spring and he will look to make his experience count in this prestigious contest.

The Ballydoyle contender placed second in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes in 2021 and went one place better 12 months ago, demonstrating his liking for this meeting.

The globe-trotting seven-year-old placed eighth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and eighth in the Hong Kong Vase last season. He could easily improve for this trip.

Subjectivist

Subjectivist landed the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup en route to landing this prize in 2021, but could only place third behind Broome in the same contest this spring.

Charlie Johnston’s stayer is entitled to come on for that run (and the one prior when placing 11th of 12) given that he missed the entirety the 2022 season through injury.

However, he faces a younger and potentially more progressive group of rivals this year and he will need to be at the peak of his powers in order to regain the crown.

Yibir

Yibir has won seven of his 17 career starts over trips ranging from seven furlongs to one-mile-and-five-furlongs and he shaped as through he was merely blowing away the cobwebs when fourth on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury.

The Godolphin owned five-year-old’s solitary victory last season came in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Close Brothers Stakes at Newmarket. However, he did demonstrate his class when landing the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2021.

This trip remains a question mark and he will clearly have to improve from his seasonal bow. But he does possess significant ability and could easily feature.

Echoes in Rain

Willie Mullins is obviously best known for being a behemoth of the jumping scene. However, he is no stranger to success at the Royal meeting and he boasts an intriguing contender for this race in the form of Grade 1 winning hurdler Echoes In Rain.

The keen-going seven-year-old landed a competitive flat handicap at Galway last summer before placing second in the Irish Cesarewitch, beaten just a neck.

This will clearly demand much more. However, Echoes In Rain enjoyed a productive spring campaign landing the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas and the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle at Punchestown either side of a solid fourth placed effort in the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Stamina shouldn’t be an issue and she could easily outperform market expectations providing she settles early on.

Trueshan

The ever popular Trueshan has landed the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup in each of the last three years but is yet to contest this race after being declared a non-runner in each of the last two years on account of the quick ground.

Alan King’s seven-year-old posted one of the best weight carrying performances in recent history when defying a mark of 120 (10-8) in the Northumberland Plate last season and he is clearly a top class performer given his ideal set of circumstances.

However, he was turned over as a 4/9 favourite on his seasonal reappearance at Nottingham and he could only place fourth as an even money favourite behind Coltrane in the Sagaro Stakes last month, which leaves him with questions to answer.

He is the last of the 2023 Ascot Gold Cup runners inside 25/1.

2023 Ascot Gold Cup Odds

Runner Best Price Worst Price
Coltrane 7/2 3/1
Eldar Eldarov 4/1 7/2
Emily Dickinson 6/1 4/1
Courage Mon Ami 7/1 5/1
Subjectivist 10/1 8/1
Yibir 12/1 9/1
Broome 14/1 10/1
Echoes In Rain 14/1 11/1
Trueshan 20/1 16/1

For the latest Ascot Gold Cup odds, click here.

2023 Ascot Gold Cup Tips & Prediction

The progressive Coltrane ran out a good winner of the Sagaro Stakes last month and is already a course and distance winner at this meeting.

He will have been trained with this race in mind and naturally commands the utmost respect.

Emily Dickinson will have the assistance of Ryan Moore but would arguably prefer more cut in the ground. While stablemate Broome brings experience to the table and could find improvement over this trip.

2021 victor Subjectivist and three times Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup hero Trueshan undoubtedly possess the ability to run well but may ultimately give way to up-and-coming rivals whom have their best days ahead of them.

Courage Mon Ami fits that bill and rates an intriguing contender for the powerful partnership of John and Thady Gosden and Frankie Dettori. However, ELDAR ELDAROV also ticks that box and he gets the vote on this occasion.

Roger Varian’s charge is already a Group 1 winner having landed the St Leger last year and I would be inclined to forgive his subsequent outing in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup which may have come too soon after his Doncaster triumph.

Eldar Eldarov proved his liking for Ascot when landing the Group 2 Queens Vase at this meeting last year and he ran a perfectly respectable race on his reappearance with a view to coming here.

The Dubawi colt has shaped as though he would be suited by marathon trips on more than one occasion and Roger Varian is a master at preparing his horses for specific races.