The highlight of Thursday’s leg of the Royal Ascot meeting is the Gold Cup, with fourteen runners declared for the Group 1 for those who can go the 2 mile 4 furlong distance.
Coltrane is the 4.33 favourite with William Hill for Andrew Balding. Oisin Murphy rode the 6-year-old to victory in a Gold Cup trial in May having renewed their partnership for the first time since 2020.
Coltrane won his only previous attempt over this course and distance in the Ascot Stakes at this meeting last year.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 21st, 9:30 A.M. (BST)
Favourite until Tuesday night was the St. Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, who is now at 5.00. Second to Giavellotto in a Group 2 at York in May, Roger Varian’s 4-year-old has only run once over 2 miles and never more. That race – the Long Distance Cup at Ascot – resulted in a seventh place finish of eight.
Frankie Dettori will ride Courage Mon Ami (6.50) in his final Gold Cup, 31 years after the first of his eight victories. John & Thady Gosden’s gelding has only had three runs in his career, never over more than 1 mile 6 furlongs, but has won them all, most recently at Goodwood in May.
Last year’s winning trainer and jockey – Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore – are gearing 6.50 shot Emily Dickinson up for her challenge. Sixth last time out over less than 2 miles at Leopardstown, she has had more success over bigger distances, winning a 2 mile Group 3 at the Curragh in October.
Another five runners have solid each way chances, beginning with Subjectivist at 11.00, who won this race two years ago with Joe Fanning on board for Mark Johnston, though training duties have been passed down to Johnston’s son Charlie.
After 18 months away, he had two runs in the Middle East earlier this year, the better result a third place at Meydan in the Dubai Gold Cup.
The winner that day at Meydan was Broome (13.00), who since then finished third behind Giavellotto and Eldar Eldarov at York. Before that, the 7-year-old’s previous win was in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot 2022.
Separating them in the market is Godolphin’s runner Yibir (12.00), who will be having his first over more than 1 mile 5 furlongs for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
Jumps specialist Willie Mullins trains Echoes In Rain (15.00) who won the Irish Mares Champion Hurdle in April, while Trueshan (17.00) won the Long Distance Cup in October but could only manage fourth in the trial.
It is 41.00 bar for the remaining four entries.
