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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
1st 1 (4) |
22nd Aug 2025 Good To Firm 2m 0f 56y Class 1 |
9st 8lb |
Battling 7yo who can front-run (doesn't have to) and did so to pulverising effect in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (2m4f, good to firm) two months ago, winning by 7l; favourite that day, having gone head to head with the best stayers around in 2023 and 2024; the one to beat, though the 3lb penalty and probably the shorter trip make his task a bit more difficult. |
4/7 |
|
1st 4 (2) |
19th Jun 2025 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Can front-run; peak days in 2023 and 2024 saw him go head to head with the best stayers around, last term beaten just 1l in this race (good to firm) by the champion Kyprios; that old rival is now absent and this battling 7yo warmed up with a dominant performance in four-runner race at Sandown; looks sure to go well again. |
5/2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 (6) |
7th May 2026 Good 1m 5f 84y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Ran as if something was amiss in the Irish St Leger on last appearance; very consistent otherwise and justified favouritism in this contest (good) 12 months ago, prior to second-place finishes in two Cup races; beaten only a neck by stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger; respected in rematch with that rival. |
3/1 |
|
7th 5 (7) |
14th Sep 2025 Good To Yielding 1m 6f 0y |
9st 10lb |
Very consistent high-class stayer; narrowly beaten in last year's St Leger at Doncaster and beat Al Qareem on seasonal return in Ormonde Stakes (Chester) before second placings in both Ascot Gold Cup and when outstayed by stablemate Scandinavia in 2m Goodwood Cup, having made the running; cheekpieces now tried and big player. |
15/8 |
|
2nd 3 (8) |
29th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Sometimes hangs under pressure but he's a resolute galloper who races prominently and can make the running if necessary; superbly reliable since last May and although he's not yet won a Group 1, he's been second in three of them, including last year's St Leger and last month's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; another leading role looks assured. |
6/4 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
6th 4 (3) |
22nd Aug 2025 Good To Firm 2m 0f 56y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in a steadily run race; held up in rear with a hood added when he emerged in a well-beaten third to Trawlerman in the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, which was well short of his best form, as was his his sixth of eight in the 2m Goodwood Cup; today's stamina test is also likely to ask him too big a question. |
25/1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
2 (4) |
18th Oct 2025 Good 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and was third and second in the last two runnings of this race; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last month when winning his second Doncaster Cup and while he had the edge over third-placed Trawlerman in this 12 months ago, he's found that rival too tough to crack in their two clashes this season. |
5/1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 3 (9) |
3rd May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 0y Class 2 |
9st 7lb |
Started 2025 with a bang for new connections when winning a slowly run, four-runner Group 3 at Ascot (2m, good to firm) in April; remote with ambitious targets on next three starts and although sixth of 11 in 2m handicap at Chester in September was an upturn, markedly better is required to win this.. |
12/1 |
|
1 (2) |
13th Sep 2025 Good 1m 7f 196y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Given wind surgery and tongue tied for new connections this season, which he started with a bang when winning a slowly run, four-runner Group 3 at Ascot (2m, good to firm) in April; remote since, however, in the Gold Cup there, a French Group 2 and the Ebor at York; this is a lesser handicap but he does not inspire great confidence even so. |
20/1 |
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 |