The feature race on Day 3 of Royal Ascot is the Group 1 Gold Cup and our team of tipsters and writers have had their say on who is likely to come out on top on Thursday afternoon. Check out their thoughts below, along with a new customer sign-up at Betfred, who are offering new customers a Bet £10 – Get £60 In Free Bets Bonus.
Andrew Mount
I was cheering Stradivarius on without having a bet at York. He might be old but he’s no back number. Then you think about last year’s Gold Cup where he finished fourth and I wouldn’t want to be backing him at 4/1. Trueshan is an absolute star, I love Trueshan but I love him on soft or heavy ground and if it dries out he may not run. He’s got the big autumn targets to come. Of those at the head of the market, it would be Kyprios. He was hugely impressive in a Group 3 where he was heavy odds on. He’s stepping up in trip but you almost know that he will stay being trained by Aidan O’Brien.
However, TASHKHAN would be my pick. You look at his runs and he’s always staying on well. He was 3rd to Stradivarius last time out at 1 mile 6f. He was 2nd to Trueshan at Champions Day. He’s 40/1 currently and I think he should go well and get a place.
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Kate Tracey
KYPRIOS is an unknown at this trip however he has plenty to recommend him. Aidan O’Brien has such a great record in this race and with this type of horse, you have to have every confidence he will see the trip out. The drying ground will be in his favour as well and he’s my pick for the big one on Thursday.
Joe Napier
Much like our friend Golden Pal, Kyprios seems to get the jitters every time he comes to Britain. Twice he has come over from Ireland and twice he has been well-beaten. This test might now suit him, but a value alternative is MOJO STAR, who was a runner-up in two Classics last term. His second to Hurricane Lane in the St Leger is particularly strong form and he was galloping on at the finish of that 1m6½f contest. He has been off since running in the Arc last October, but ran up to a decent level of form on return last season and he would have a much better chance than his odds suggest if maintaining his level of form over 2m4f.
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Jordan Arksey
Aidan O’Brien is the leading trainer in this Group 1 contest, winning the Gold Cup on seven different occasions and whilst his last victory came back in 2016 with Order Of St George, the Irish handler appears to have a serious contender in this year’s event in the shape of KYPRIOS.
The lightly-raced son of Galileo has only been seen on the track six times during his relatively short career, however, those six runs have produced four impressive victories including when thumping three rivals in the Group 3 Levmoss Stakes when last seen over 1m6f.
Although he is yet to race beyond that trip, Kyprios is bred to excel over this marathon distance, being closely related to 2021 Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight, and considering four-year-olds have won seven of the last ten runnings of this prestigious event, Aidan O’Brien’s unexposed colt certainly ticks plenty of boxes and could turn out to be the next emerging force in the staying ranks.
Joe Eccles
Whilst I’d love Stradivarius to pick up a fourth Gold Cup, he just found a younger, more progressive stayer too strong last year and I suspect that connections hearts will once again be broken in 2022 with the similarly unexposed KYPRIOS. This impeccably bred colt has really come good this year, showing a strong staying trait to land the Listed Vintage Crop at Navan in April. His subsequent 1/10F victory at Leopardstown told his little that we didn’t already know about this son of Galileo, but it’s notable that he’s the sole representative of the leading Gold Cup trainer Aidan O’Brien, who clearly knows what is required to land this event.
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Tom Aldridge
This is more than likely a heart over head choice, but I’ve got to side with STRADIVARIUS to give us one last Royal Ascot win and equal Yeats’ record of four Gold Cups. John & Thady Gosden’s star may have only finished fourth in the race last year, but he was blocked in when bidding to make his move and if Frankie Dettori can get him in a better position around the home turn he should be difficult to catch.
With the ground looking too dry for Trueshan, the chances are he will get pulled out and in truth, I can only see Kyrpios and Princess Zoe coming close to Stradivarius. Although not ground dependent, the quick going will be a big help to Stradivarius as he kicks for home and I’m hopeful he’ll land this, raising the roof in the process!
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Robert Plumbridge
Remarkably at this stage, it isn’t a case of Going, Going, Gone for Trueshan given the drying conditions this week. He’s still in the market but could be withdrawn later on. Without his favoured ground I’m keen to take him on, along with old favourite Stradivarius who might not be the force of old.
The odds are quite prohibitive on Kyprios for a horse who hasn’t tackled this far. Aidan O’Brien’s string haven’t set the world alight so far this week (at the time of writing, 3.30pm Wednesday!) He may well be the good thing here but I’d rather take a chance on PRINCESS ZOE. The loveable grey warmed up for this by winning a thrilling Sagaro Stakes over a similar trip. This isn’t a vintage renewal by any means and her 2nd to Subjectivist 12 months ago might be enough to go one better. Odds of 7/1 appeal in a 10-runner field.
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