14:10 Ascot

Saturday 19 October 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2016:0016:40

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 3m 29.49s

(9)

Bin Battuta^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 110| C

25/1

Missed all of 2018 but got a win on the board at Meydan at the start of the year and returned from a mid-season absence with a win at Chelmsford last month. Stamina unproven at this trip though and clear career best needed.

Form: 12/1331

(7)

Capri²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF

25/1

Irish Derby winner but hasn't won since a Group 3 success at Naas in April 2018. Cut in the ground will suit but well below his best so far this season.

Form: 536403

(2)

Cleonte¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| CD

40/1

Dual course winner who put a respectable effort in defeat behind Stradivarius in this year's Doncaster Cup. Well beaten at Longchamp subsequently though and has a fair bit to find back up at this level.

Form: 613027

(3)

Kew Gardens³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| C

7/2

St Leger winner last year and unlucky not to have got his head in front so far this campaign, runner-up in the Irish Leger last time out. Shapes as if this trip could suit but seems at his best on decent ground.

Form: 317-222

(8)

Max Dynamite³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W P Mullins| OR: 107| D

33/1

Not the most consistent performer and not getting any younger but has placed in two renewals of the Melbourne Cup. No match for Stradivarius when third in the Doncaster Cup last time though and others make more appeal.

Form: 68-3103

(10)

Mekong⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 108

20/1

Both his wins have come on heavy ground and has largely been running well so far this year. However, there are no obvious signs he's going to be able to mix it at this level and he was only 10th in the Ebor last time out.

Form: 12-2720

(5)

Royal Line⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 111

12/1

Arrives here bidding to land his fourth win in the space of five starts. Had a bit in hand when winning a Group 3 at Kempton last time out but will need sizable improvement for the step back up in trip.

Form: 7/311-41

(6)

Stradivarius³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 121| CD

8/13

On a remarkable Group race winning run that was stretched to 10 in the Doncaster Cup last time out. Won this race in good fashion last year and has won four of his five starts at this venue; very hard to beat if near his best.

Form: 1-11111

(4)

Withhold^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 113| D

15/2

Six wins from 15 starts and got his head back in front in a Listed race at Newmarket last time out. Useful when allowed to dominate from the front but seen to best effect on quicker ground than what's likely here.

Form: 1/18-101

Non-Runners

(1)

South Pacific⁸¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Stradivarius (8/13), Kew Gardens (7/2), Withhold (15/2), Royal Line (12/1), Mekong (20/1), Capri (25/1), Bin Battuta (25/1), Max Dynamite (33/1), South Pacific (33/1), Cleonte (40/1)

STRADIVARIUS holds outstanding claims in his bid for an eleventh straight Group win and a sixth career Group 1 success having won this race in good style last year, despite a big drift in the betting pre-race. Kew Gardens can be considered his main danger with this step up in trip probably in his favour provided he handles conditions. Bin Battuta won his prep-race for this in good fashion and may be another suited by the step up in trip.