12.55
GoodQipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)
- Prize money: £301271.87
- 1m 7f 209y
- Class 1
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
12/1
Form: 211431 C
Last run: 14 days
W: 9st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| 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 |
9st 7lb |
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 |
9st 5lb |
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 |
9st 7lb |
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 |
5/1
Form: -34321 D
Last run: 36 days
W: 9st 9lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 115
| 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 |
4/9
Form: 3-5111 CD
Last run: 57 days
W: 9st 9lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| 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 |
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 |
|
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 |
66/1
Form: 3-2315 BF
Last run: 6 days
W: 9st 2lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 88
| 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 |
11st 0lb |
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 |
11st 6lb |
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 |
11st 0lb |
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 |
5/1
Form: 1243
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 2lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 113
| 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 |
9st 2lb |
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 |
9st 3lb |
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 |
9st 2lb |
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
The Sun:
TrawlermanThe Star:
Trawlerman