15:35 Royal Ascot

Thursday 18 June 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Gold Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 4m 32.60s

(6)

Cross Counter¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 118| BF| C

7/1

2018 Melbourne Cup winner got within 1¾L of Stradivarius when finishing fourth in this a year ago; decent weight-carrying efforts in h'caps Australia/Saudi Arabia in last two starts and should go well but the champ may have his measure again.

Form: 14348-5

(4)

Mekong^h¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: J A Osborne| OR: 112

33/1

Both turf wins have come on testing ground and well behind Stradivarius when that rival was defeated in Long Distance Cup here on Champions Day; two fair runs in h'caps in Dubai/ Saudi Arabia this year and hood is retained but minor role forecast.

Form: 7204-42

(8)

Prince Of Arran¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Fellowes| OR: 113

33/1

Globe-trotting stayer finished a commendable third behind Nayef Road in the Sagaro Stakes at Newcastle (2m, Tapeta) on return and was second in the same race here 2017. Down the field in this race when Big Orange won that year and facing stiff task.

Form: 3220-33

(2)

Stradivarius¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 122| CD

4/5

Has won the last two renewals and while his winning sequence ended on Champions Day with nose-defeat to Kew Gardens here, he remains 5-5 over 2m+. Perfect prep in 1m4f Coronation Cup at Newmarket and seems primed for hat-trick bid today.

Form: 11112-3

(7)

Withhold^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 110| BF

40/1

Cesarewitch (2017) & Northumberland Plate (2018) winner; landed Listed 2m win at Newmarket in the autumn but well held in Long Distance Cup here. Disappointing in first-time blinkers (off now) at Newcastle in Sagaro Stakes won by Nayef Road.

Form: 8/1015-7

(3)

Moonlight Spirit²⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 110

10/1

Progressive last season and finished pleasing fourth in Queen's Vase here (1m6f, soft; 17-2); two strong runs afterwards in France including a Group 3 win. Low-mileage four-year-old will have his wits tested tackling 2m+ trip for the first time.

Form: 113412-

(1)

Nayef Road¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 113

11/1

Busy three-year-old last season, including Group 3 Gordon Stakes win at Glorious Goodwood (1m4f) and St Leger third; returned with Sagaro Stakes win over 2m+ on Tapeta at Newcastle beating a few of these; more to come from him.

Form: 21537-1

(5)

Technician²³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Meade| OR: 116

4/1

Won 5-9 starts last year including Group 1/2 wins in France in the autumn; accounting for some of these rivals in doing so. Going beyond 2m for the first time here and suspicion he'll need the ground soft to enhance his claims.

Form: 161611-

Forecasts

Stradivarius (4/5), Technician (4/1), Cross Counter (7/1), Moonlight Spirit (10/1), Nayef Road (11/1), Mekong (33/1), Prince Of Arran (33/1), Withhold (40/1)

STRADIVARIUS seems to hold the aces in his bid to become the third three-time winner of this great event. John Gosden's star stayer has lost his veneer of invincibility after successive defeats but his Coronation Cup run recently was a perfect prep for this. He's 5-5 racing beyond two-miles and can break the will of his rivals late on. Four-year-olds have won six of the last eight Gold Cups and Nayef Road took another step forward when winning the Sagaro at Newcastle recently. He's a lively player, while Moonlight Spirit can also get in the scrap for places. The third of that generation, Technician, would have his claims enhanced by any moisture that gets into the ground.