Steve Ryder previews the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot, taking a look at the trends, runners, and riders before providing his betting tip for the race.
British Champions Long Distance Cup
The Long Distance Cup was transferred from Newmarket (run as the Jockey Club Cup) and given its present name in 2011 when Champions Day was first staged. It was upgraded from a Group 3 to a Group 2 in 2014 and has been upgraded this year to Group 1 status for the first time.
British Champions Long Distance Cup Winners, Trends & Stats
Trueshan won this race three years in a row between 2020 and 2022. Trawlerman beat Kyprios and Sweet William in 2023 but the order was different last year with Kyprios beating Sweet William and Trawlerman in that renewal.
- 10 of the previous 12 winners were aged between 4 and 6
- 9 of the previous 12 winners were rated 112 or higher
- 9 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Ascot
- 8 of the previous 12 winners won last time out
- 8 of the previous 12 winners had won at group level
British Champions Long Distance Cup Runners Guide
AL QAREEM
Improving and consistent six-year-old who has form figures of 31211431 this season. The Karl Burke trained gelding won the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes for the third year in a row at this track last time on soft ground by six lengths. He had previously only finished 4th behind Trawlerman and Sweet William at York in the Lonsdale Cup but wasn’t ridden from the front that day.
SUNWAY
David Menuisier trained four-year-old who is yet to win in seven starts so far this season. Has been tried over a variety of trips this season including when 4th in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup in July over this 2 mile trip. Blinkers, that he had worn on his previous four starts, were removed when only 4th in the Prix du Cadran last time.
SWEET WILLIAM
Consistent six-year-old who has only finished outside of the top 3 in one of his 20 race career so far. 3rd in this race in 2023, he finished 2nd last year behind Kyprios with his 2023 conqueror Trawlerman in 3rd. He won the Group 2 Doncaster Cup for the second year in a row on his previous start and he looks the biggest danger to his stablemate.
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TRAWLERMAN
Seven-year-old who has won 10 of his 22 career starts. The John & Thady Gosden trained gelding won this race in 2023 before finishing 3rd in it last season. He won the Ascot Gold Cup here prior to beating Sweet William under a 3lb penalty in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York on his latest start. He is a worthy favourite to retain his crown.
SARATOGA
Aidan O’Brien trained three-year-old who won a Listowel handicap off a mark of 80 before finishing 5th in a Naas handicap on Sunday off a mark of 93. He may be used as a pacemaker for stablemate Stay True in this race.
STAY TRUE
From the last crop of Galileo, the Aidan O’Brien trained colt has progressed with each of his four starts this season. He won a Leopardstown maiden before finishing a close 2nd in the Lingfield Derby trial. Returning from a 102 day break, he finished 4th in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes before finishing 3rd in the St Leger Stakes when only beaten 1 ½ lengths by stablemate Scandinavia. Supplemented for £37,500 on Monday.
British Champions Long Distance Cup Trainers To Watch
Aidan O’Brien has won this race four times with Fame And Glory (2011), Order Of St George (2017), Kew Gardens (2019) and Kyprios (2024). John Gosden has been successful twice with Stradivarius (2018) and Trawlerman (2024).
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British Champions Long Distance Cup Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Trawlerman | 1/2 |
| Stay True | 4/1 |
| Sweet William | 7/1 |
| Al Qareem | 12/1 |
| Sunway | 33/1 |
| Saratoga | 66/1 |
British Champions Long Distance Cup Tips
SWEET WILLIAM (best priced at 7/1) has 6lbs to find with his stablemate Trawlerman on official ratings but finished ahead of him in this race last season. The John & Thady Gosden trained six-year-old has been a model of consistency throughout his career with his only disappointing effort coming in the Ascot Gold Cup this year when 4th behind Trawlerman when ridden too aggressively. He closed that gap in the Yorkshire Cup when 2nd beaten only 1 ¼ lengths in receipt of 3lbs prior to winning the Doncaster Cup for a second year in a row.
Hopefully Saratoga is used as a pacemaker in this race so Trawlerman doesn’t get an easy lead and that should suit Sweet William who is at his best when patiently ridden by Rab Havlin.
