Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 3m 22.29s

(5)

Al Qareem¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 114| C

7/1

Likeable front runner who showed a tremendous attitude when winning the Cumberland Lodge for the third straight year here a fortnight ago, holding off all comers and forging clear. Suspect this trip is beyond him (safely held by the Gosden pair on Lonsdale Cup form) but he'll give it a good shot.

Form: 211431

(4)

Sweet William^v³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 115| D

5/2

Very smart stayer who has his quirks but usually runs well, boasting a particularly good record in the Doncaster Cup, capitalising on the absence of his main rivals in this division when landing the spoils last month. Second in front of Trawlerman in this last year and will be in the mix again.

Form: 2-34321

(2)

Trawlerman^h⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 121| CD

5/6

The dominant stayer around following the retirement of Kyprios, storming clear in the Ascot Gold Cup before getting up another hat-trick in the Lonsdale Cup at York, grinding it out from stablemate Sweet William. Form figures in this race read 313 and he's very much the one to beat.

Form: 23-5111

(1)

Saratoga⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92| BF

66/1

Listowel handicap winner who was well backed and improved despite only finishing fifth in good 2m Naas contest last week. This demands a whole lot more, but he looks a promising stayer.

Form: 3-2315

(3)

Stay True³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Soumillon| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 114

13/2

Successful debut in Leopardstown maiden in April and has improved with each start since, faring best of the O'Brien quartet in the Great Voltigeur and not beaten far (looked likely winner over 1f out) by Scandinavia in the St Leger. Retains potential but 2m not certain to be his trip.

Form: 1243

Forecasts

Trawlerman (5/6), Sweet William (5/2), Stay True (13/2), Al Qareem (7/1), Saratoga (66/1)

A cracking opportunity for Gold Cup winner TRAWLERMAN to cap off a stellar season and take this prize for a second time. Sweet William can complete a 1-2 for the stable. Al Qareem and Stay True might be found wanting for stamina when it matters, although Saratoga looks a promising stayer in the making and could outrun his odds.