October 18 / 12.55 Ascot

12.55

Good

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)

  • Prize money: £301271.87
  • 1m 7f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 211431 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Front-running 6yo who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins now to his credit, including three of his four starts at Ascot; latest was over 1m4f two weeks ago, with three 1m6f wins earlier this season; he's never been at his best over this far, admittedly with stiff tasks but it's hard to ignore that Trawlerman gave him 3lb and a comprehensive beating at York in August.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Uncharacteristically below par when well beaten at Chester last month and the track wasn't an excuse; four Group 3/Listed wins last year, including when making all in this under a 5lb penalty (same today), and he reappeared with a Listed win at Musselburgh in April; leading claims if back on song.

2/1

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

Form: -34321 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
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.
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

16:15 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

18:12 Sandown

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

14:35 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

Form: 3-5111 CD

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Trawlerman

9st 4lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

12:55 Ascot

Trawlerman

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

14:25 York

Trawlerman

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

Form: 3-2315 BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Placed in his three maidens; improved for handicap win at Listowel (upped to 1m6f on heavy) and fifth of 20 in a useful handicap at Naas (2m, yielding) six days ago; both were from the front and maybe he'll try to make the running again, but pedigree (half-brother to high-class Capri and Tower Of London) is vastly more appealing than form for this stablemate of Stay True.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

11

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:55 Punchestown

Saratoga

11st 0lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Padraig Roche

Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien; hinted there was a bigger performance in him when placed in first three maiden hurdles, one over this C&D (yielding) and twice at Naas on softer ground; duly delivered the goods on handicap debut, winning the Fred Winter at Cheltenham (2m, gd-sft) by 2.25l off 130; steps into Grade 1 company for the first time and very much respected.

5/1

1st

9

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Saratoga

11st 6lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Padraig Roche

Six Flat runs for Aidan O'Brien, best form at 1m6f/2m; jumping was ropey in his first two defeats over hurdles but that part of his game improved when a rallying second in a rated hurdle at Naas (soft to heavy) that has delivered four of the last seven winners of this race; probably peaking at the right time when this has all the hallmarks of a long-term plan; seems versatile ground-wise; lots to like.

13/2

2nd

6

7th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 158y

13:05 Naas

Saratoga

11st 0lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Padraig Roche

Flat winner for Ballydoyle over 1m6f on heavy (rated 92); promising hurdles debut when never-nearer third (3.25l behind Minella Boss) at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and probably similar level of form in C&D maiden last month, still novicey in jumping; gives the impression improvement likely given better jumping.

9/1

Form: 1243

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won a 1m2f Leopardstown maiden and short-headed in 11.6f Lingfield Derby Trial before a three-month absence; returned with further improved efforts when close up in the Great Voltigeur at York (1m4f, good to firm) and the St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, soft) and he threatened to win in both those races; he therefore remains a very classy prospect but he's not been shaping as if this extra distance is what he needs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(3)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Stay True

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Won a 1m2f Leopardstown maiden and short-headed in 11.6f Lingfield Derby Trial before a three-month absence; returned with further improved efforts when close up in the Great Voltigeur at York (1m4f, good to firm) and the St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, soft) and he threatened to win in both those races; he therefore remains a very classy prospect but he's not been shaping as if this extra distance is what he needs.

5/1

3rd

6

(3)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:40 Doncaster

Stay True

9st 3lb

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: A P O’Brien

Three of Aidan O'Brien's last four St Leger winners were by Galileo and this colt is from the great sire's final crop; unraced on softer than good; won a 1m2f Leopardstown maiden and short-headed in 11.6f Lingfield Derby Trial; off for more than three months before he upstaged stablemate Lambourn in the 1m4f Great Voltigeur at York, taking over briefly more than 1f out, and although he finished fourth he was pipped for second only on the line by Carmers; there's more for him to prove regarding stamina today compared to all of his rivals, but O'Brien made clear that the York race was needed; after just three races, he still looks an exciting prospect.

8/1

4th

6

(5)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Stay True

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

400,000gns purchase as a foal, from the last crop of Galileo; knuckled down to win a Leopardstown maiden (1m2f, good) in April in clearcut style; ran odds-on stablemate to a short head in Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield (11.6f, good to firm) in May, which augured well (despite subsequent performances of the winner) but he's been off since; faced with three more stablemates, including dual Derby winner, it will be fascinating to see his market strength.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.20
Straight Forecast £3.17
Trifecta £5.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Trawlerman

TOPSPEED:

Stay True

Daily Mail:

Sweet William

Daily Record:

Stay True

RP RATINGS:

Trawlerman

POSTDATA:

Trawlerman

NEWMARKET:

Trawlerman

The Times:

Trawlerman

Telegraph:

Trawlerman

The Guardian:

Trawlerman

D Express:

Trawlerman

Daily Mirror:

Trawlerman

The Sun:

Trawlerman

The Star:

Trawlerman