16:20 Royal Ascot

Thursday 20 June 2019

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Gold Cup (Group 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 30.88s

(1)

Called To The Bar^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Mme P Brandt| OR: 113

20/1

Has looked progressive since he's been stepped up to staying trips in France and landed a Group 2 in good fashion at Longchamp last time when he won going away. Step up in trip could suit and not one to rule out.

Form: 312-131

(7)

Capri³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| BF

16/1

Irish Derby winner who went on to land the Doncaster St Leger next time out but didn't manage to replicate that form as a four-year-old. Beaten favourite twice so far this term and looks in need of a marked step up in trip sparking a return to form.

Form: 5540-53

(6)

Magic Circle⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 114

25/1

Won the Chester Cup in fine style and followed up in Group company next time out but bombed out in the Melbourne Cup (favourite) on final start of 2018. Struggled back at Chester on return and looks best watched for now.

Form: 50/110-3

(2)

Stradivarius³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 120| CD

1/1

Won this race last year and arrives bidding for a seventh Group win in succession having won the £1m stayers' bonus last year. Won better than the margin suggested on reappearance run at York and hard to beat with stamina and class proven.

Form: 11111-1

(3)

Thomas Hobson³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: W P Mullins| OR: 112| CD

25/1

C&D winner of the Ascot Stakes in 2017 and took advantage of a weak Doncaster Group 2 in September before a respectable effort behind Stradivarius on Champions' Day. Needs more in a deeper race here though and runner-up on reappearance in Germany.

Form: 6/6512-2

(4)

Cross Counter⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 118| C

4/1

Progressive sort and unbeaten at 2m. Overcame a nightmare position turning in to the straight in the Melbourne Cup (heavy) to win going away and won well in the Dubai Gold Cup last time out. Stamina to prove but a live player if he stays.

Form: 41121-1

(11)

Cypress Creek^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107

66/1

Group 3 winner at 2m last year at Naas but well below form in two starts this year and has struggled when stepped up to this sort of level before (well beaten behind Stradivarius and Flag Of Honour last season). Others make more appeal.

Form: 3616-59

(8)

Dee Ex Bee²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 115| C

7/2

Runner-up in last year's Epsom Derby and has appreciated the drop in class/step up in trip this season, winning a pair of Group 3 contests. Doesn't always travel well but possible this marathon test could suit and has each-way claims.

Form: 3243-11

(5)

Flag Of Honour²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117

11/1

Irish St Leger winner in 2018. Looked a bit unlucky, though ultimately well held by Stradivarius on Champions' Day in October. Running well in defeat over an inadequate 1m2f so far this campaign; stamina for this test is an unknown but respected.

Form: 145-222

(9)

Master Of Reality³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 108

66/1

Placed at Listed level in France and caused an upset when winning a Group 3 at Navan in April but didn't back that up at Leopardstown next time. Big step up in trip and plenty to prove.

Form: 7250-14

(10)

Raymond Tusk³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hannon| OR: 111

40/1

Won twice since his debut, landing a Listed event at Hamilton in July before getting his head back in front in an end of season Italian Group 2. Has plenty to find with a couple of these on two UK runs from this year and stamina for this is unknown.

Form: 261-623

Forecasts

Stradivarius (1/1), Dee Ex Bee (7/2), Cross Counter (4/1), Flag Of Honour (11/1), Capri (16/1), Called To The Bar (20/1), Magic Circle (25/1), Thomas Hobson (25/1), Raymond Tusk (40/1), Master Of Reality (66/1), Cypress Creek (66/1)

STRADIVARIUS picked up where he left off last season in the Yorkshire Cup, a race he won en route to Gold Cup glory last year, and he's sure to be hard to beat in his bid for a seventh straight Group success and third Group 1 win. Several rivals have stamina to prove at this new trip but Cross Counter makes most appeal of the remainder having won the Melbourne Cup in fine style before a cosy success in the Dubai Gold Cup last time. Called To The Bar is an interesting French raider who won well last time and generally gives his running.