13:25 Ascot

Saturday 21 October 2017

All13:2514:0014:4015:1515:5016:30

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 3m 37.84s

(6)

Big Orange^p⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: M L W Bell| OR: 120| BF| C| D

10/1

Multiple Group winner who landed his first Group 1 here this year when landing the Gold Cup, gamely holding off Order Of St George. Beaten by Stradivarius last time and best efforts have been on fast ground but will give it a good go from the front.

Form: 30-4112

(3)

Cap'n

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Mitch Godwin| T: B G Powell

150/1

Gamut gelding, cost €3,500 as a foal. Bizarrely makes his debut here and given a seemingly impossible task amongst some of the world's best stayers.

Form:

(1)

Clever Cookie^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: P D Niven| OR: 109| D

33/1

Runner-up in this race back in 2015 and largely running well last season, landing a Group 2 at York in the process. Has looked a little regressive this campaign but he'll appreciate the rain that has come at least and not without an each-way squeek.

Form: 699364

(4)

Dartmouth⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 115| C

20/1

Landed a Group 2 at the Royal meeting here last season over 1m4f and showed he stayed this trip well when runner-up in a York Group 2 two starts back. Disappointing last time on soft in the Irish St Leger though and ground a concern again.

Form: 22-1428

(11)

Duretto³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| OR: 112| C

16/1

Only seen twice this campaign and impressive when well-backed for a Listed contest at Chester last time out on heavy ground. Gives the impression he'll stay this far and can't be ruled out with a less exposed profile than many.

Form: 2251-31

(10)

Nearly Caught²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: H Morrison| OR: 109| D

66/1

Won back-to-back races at Deauville last year including a Group 2, but not in the same form this campaign. Ran well in Listed company last time but needs to find more in what will be his toughest test to date and a little unproven on soft ground.

Form: 291462

(12)

Order Of St George²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| BF| C

4/5

Three-time Group 1 winner (including Gold Cup here) who ran a fine race in defeat in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last time over a trip sharper than his optimum. Has the best form in the book and hard to beat back over this trip.

Form: 212114

(8)

Sheikhzayedroad^h³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: D M Simcock| OR: 112| CD

25/1

Won this race last year and he's a creditable performer who often gives his running. Good third of nine in a Doncaster Group 2 last time behind Desert Skyline but this is tougher and looks vulnerable for win purposes with the yard a little quiet.

Form: 336743

(2)

Stars Over The Sea²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Fran Berry| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 100| D

100/1

Yet to score for this yard in four runs (two over hurdles) and well beaten by Order Of St George in a Listed race earlier in the campaign. Beaten 5L in a Group 3 last time and plenty more on his plate here. Hard to fancy.

Form: 254-412

(7)

Torcedor^p⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 110

25/1

Has improved since joining this yard and got the better of Order Of St George in a Group 3 at Navan earlier in the season. That rival reversed the form in convincing fashion last time but ground no issue and has each-way claims.

Form: 70-1152

(9)

Desert Skyline^p³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 112

9/1

Good third behind Stradivarius and Big Orange at the Goodwood Festival and landed a Group 2 last time out at Doncaster with a couple of these rivals behind. Ought to get the decent pace he requires to be seen at his best and less exposed than many.

Form: 362321

(13)

Mount Moriah¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 106| BF| C

66/1

Won a pair of handicaps at Newbury to start the campaign but has found life tougher at pattern level since. Well beaten here in a Listed contest last time and this clearly tougher. Can race keenly and others preferred.

Form: 1-11335

(5)

Stradivarius³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 118| C| D

4/1

Won the Goodwood Cup, getting the better of several of these rivals and went down fighting in the St Leger last time when narrowly beaten. Brings top-class form into the race but connections have voiced concerns over the likley soft ground.

Form: 1-12113

Forecasts

Order Of St George (4/5), Stradivarius (4/1), Desert Skyline (9/1), Big Orange (10/1), Duretto (16/1), Dartmouth (20/1), Torcedor (25/1), Sheikhzayedroad (25/1), Clever Cookie (33/1), Mount Moriah (66/1), Nearly Caught (66/1), Stars Over The Sea (100/1), Cap'n (150/1)

A strong renewal of this contest and a Group 1 in all but name. Big Orange is likely to take them along on the front end and he'd be dangerous to discount if granted an easy lead, despite the ground being a little softer than what he would like. Connections of Stradivarius have stated he's another who wouldn't want testing conditions and Dettori deserted the colt in the St Leger when it looked like the ground would turn up soft. ORDER OF ST GEORGE would appear to be the one to beat. He was just touched off by Big Orange here in the Gold Cup but he's taken to reverse the form on ground he relishes. Duretto can't be ruled out for a place after an impressive win on heavy ground at Chester last time out in Listed company.