16.20
Good To FirmGold Cup (Group 1)
- Prize money: £368615
- 2m 3f 210y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
5/2 (Won)
- Win: £3.13
- Place: £1.15
Form: 323-51 C
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 (8) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Can make the running (he doesn't have to) to maximise the emphasis on stamina; won a handicap at this meeting in 2022 in his only appearance at Goodwood and has battled it out in the top staying contests since autumn 2023; unbeaten in four British races last season, but reappearance this term was delayed until his repeat bid for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and he lost out to Scandinavia in only the dying strides; he didn't look far off his best that day but there's clearly an argument that he will have come on from the run. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 6 (2) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
High class, a thorough stayer and a right battler, the powerful combination of which were seen to prime effect here as a 7yo last year when he made the running (he doesn't have to) to win the Gold Cup on good to firm by 7l, having been a close second the year before; just as good when he won here on final start last term; it's seemingly been touch and go whether he defends his crown, as he has been denied a preliminary run this time round and has developed a rare eye problem which makes him sensitive to sunlight, but he's the one to beat if judged on those sterling performances of 2025. |
7/2 |
|
3 (2) |
18th Oct 2025 Good 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Battling 7yo who can front-run (doesn't have to) and did so to pulverising effect in the Gold Cup here (2m4f) this June, winning by 7l; that's his career-best form but several runs are not far behind it, including his two other wins this season; latest was from Sweet William at York (2m); won this race in 2023, fair third last year and very much the one to beat this time. |
4/9 |
13/8
- Place: £1.50
Form: 2221-1 C
Last run: 42 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 (4) |
21st Aug 2026 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
The supremely reliable performer (acted on any going) of 2024 and most of 2025 has gone and most of his performances since have been pretty grim in comparison; this season's clear exception was when he made class tell with his sights lowered in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, winning by a neck from French Master; the Goodwood Cup took him well out of his comfort zone again last time and he carried his head awkwardly, but the less demanding company today offers a bit of hope. |
9/1 |
|
5th 3 (7) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
7l second to Trawlerman in 2025 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and beaten three-quarters of a length by Scandinavia in this; those performances were near his best but most since have been pretty grim; this season's clear exception was when he made class tell with sights lowered in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, winning by a neck from French Master, but latest start showed again that today's task is likely to take him well out of his comfort zone. |
25/1 |
|
5th 5 (2) |
19th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 4y |
9st 11lb |
2024 Queen's Vase winner; second in last year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (good to firm) and runner-up again in the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); flopped when favourite for the Irish St Leger won by Al Riffa; satisfactory return in Ormonde at Chester before a dismal Coronation Cup run; bounced back from that when landing the Queen Alexandra. |
2/1 |
28/1
- Place: £3.75
Form: 04/119 C
Last run: 25 days
W: 9st 4lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 4 (5) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
10yo who has generally fared much better in the Middle East than in Britain but showed far too much toe for the others when stealing a march on Sweet William in 2m Group 3 at Sandown on latest start (hung on by a neck); never remotely near the principals when 14l third in this last year and he's probably not the out-and-out stayer that's required to win it. |
50/1 |
|
1st 3 (7) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Won Group 3 (1m6f, good) and Group 2 (2m, good) races at Meydan early last year and he's very much of interest on that form; however, not at the same level subsequently and he was a soundly beaten fourth behind Sweet William in the Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot (2m, good to firm) recently. |
20/1 |
|
4th 6 (5) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Has delivered smart efforts almost every season since 2020 (missed 2024) and last year's win in the 2m Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan was one of his best; that campaign went the wrong way and he did not perk up when returning for Dubai Gold Cup (20-1) five weeks ago, but holds a cracking chance if returning to his best. |
16/1 |
9/1
Form: 3212-3
Last run: 34 days
W: 9st 4lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 (9) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Third and fourth in the last two renewals of this race and his 19l defeat last year was the only time in his career that he's finished out of the top three; being ridden closer to the pace that day seemingly backfired, as he's usually smuggled into each-way contention in the closing stages; beat Caballo De Mar (who gave 2lb) in one tight finish this year and not quite able to reel in Dubai Future in another; probably as good as ever but winning the Gold Cup may again prove a bit beyond him. |
16/1 |
|
2nd 1 (4) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty. |
Evs |
|
1st 2 (9) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player. |
2/1 |
33/1
Form: 643-22 CD
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 (3) |
12th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 2m 1f 197y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
Stalwart of the staying scene, including with a win in this race in 2022 and a creditable fourth in 2024; both were on good to soft (beaten nearly 4l by Sweet William last year) and there was a lesser show on soft ground in the 2023 renewal; not quite as good as he was and he was dropped to a Listed race when winning ten weeks ago when last seen; major place contender if the ground isn't soft. |
12/1 |
|
3 (5) |
4th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Four-time Group winner; well held in the Gold Cup most recently; two attempts over C&D comprise a success in this contest in 2022 and respectable second in Group 3 on penultimate start; solid chance back down in class. |
9/2 |
|
5th 1 (6) |
19th Jun 2025 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it. |
33/1 |
3/1
Form: 1-1131
Last run: 25 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 7 (4) |
19th Jun 2025 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
French-trained 4yo who made debut only last December and has had just five races, winning four; upped to 1m7f for Group 3 at Longchamp in April, held up last, outpaced when the pace quickened but beaten by just two heads; with a more truly run race over an extended 1m7f for Group 1 there four weeks later he turned the tables and did it in some style, ridden closer and emerging in front 2f out before stretching clear late on; the ground for both Longchamp races was officially good to soft but significantly firmer judged on race times; one of the top contenders on ratings and a hugely exciting staying prospect. |
3/1 |
25/1
Form: 3006-1 C
Last run: 50 days
W: 9st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 106
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20th 2 (1) |
27th Jul 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 179y |
12st 0lb |
Ex-Jessica Harrington/Michael Bell; winner at Group 3 level for his two former trainers; despite reduced mark, does not look well handicapped at this stage; stable debut. |
50/1 |
|
14th 7 (16) |
16th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 34y Class 2 |
9st 11lb |
Ex-Irish 7yo; won a slowly run, four-runner Group 3 over 2m here in April 2025 on his stable debut but failed to kick on and he needed to run a lot better than he did at Newmarket in early May (1m6f) to be seriously considered here; the hood and blinkers are new additions. |
50/1 |
25/1
Form: 31-211
Last run: 62 days
W: 9st 4lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14th 1 (1) |
2nd Aug 2025 Soft 1m 6f 0y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Has raced only four times on turf, with a soft-ground win on first occasion but lesser shows since, already dropping out when he was hampered in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last time (50-1; pulled up); reliable and progressive on AW, surging to new heights with his two handicap wins (1m6f/2m) this March/April, but he's now 8lb higher than for latest win. |
12/1 |
|
5 (3) |
19th Jun 2025 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Has raced only three times on turf, with a soft-ground win on first occasion but lesser shows since, including at this meeting on good ground two years ago; on the other hand he's been reliable and progressive on AW, surging to new heights with his two handicap wins this March/April; latest was for a big prize at Newcastle (2m) and he did it in good style, so he's not miles away on ratings today but still has a lot to prove. |
25/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £9.60 |
| Straight Forecast | £7.05 |
| Tricast | £92.72 |
| Trifecta | £99.10 |