June is here which can only mean one thing, Royal Ascot is just around the corner. One of the highlights of the festival is the Gold Cup, the Group 1 race that is run over two miles and three furlongs.
Here is a guide for all the potential runners in this spectacle later this month.
Six-year-old bay gelding Coltrane (3/1) is the current favourite for the race via Betfred. He has ran at Ascot on three occasions previously, winning twice and placing second in the other.
Roger Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov (7/2) was well beaten on her last outing at Ascot back in October, but did post a victory there last June. Bay filly Emily Dickinson (13/2) is hoping to be a ninth Gold Cup winner for Aiden O’Brien at Ascot this year, after stablemate Kyprios won it for the Irish trainer last year.
Haskoy (8/1) has won three of her four career races but this will be her first experience at Ascot. Broome (10/1) has gained a lot of experience on the Ascot track but has only tasted victory once, in the Hardwicke Stakes last summer.
Subjectivist (10/1) landed a five-length victory in the Gold Cup back in 2021 for then trainer Mark Johnston, but his next appearance did not come until February this year having moved into the care of Charlie Johnston.
Another debutant at Ascot will be chestnut gelding Yibir (10/1). He looked a little offbeat on his last outing at Newbury, so it will take significant improvement if he is to triumph in this Group 1 special.
Courage Mon Ami (10/1) is currently unbeaten in his three career races, with his latest coming last week at Goodwood. Bay mare Echoes In Rain (12/1) is preparing to make her Ascot bow. She’s heading there in good form after claiming the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown back in April.
Point Lonsdale (14/1) is another O’Brien star who could be in the Gold Cup field. The four-year-old has got to show a stronger finish after weakening towards the end in her last race at Epsom. Seven-year-old Trueshan (16/1) prevailed over race favourite Coltrane at Ascot by a head last October, before Coltrane got revenge last month in their Longines Sangaro Stakes meeting.
Four-year-old French Claim (16/1) was beaten by Emily Dickinson on her last ride at Navan in April. El Habeeb (20/1) narrowly snatched a victory at Ascot in the Peroni Nastro Azzuro Noel Murless Stakes by just half a length in September. The bay colt then placed third behind winner Coltrane at Ascot last month.
Changingoftheguard (25/1) is another O’Brien-trained hopeful for the Gold Cup. She heads there with high hopes after winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot last summer. After being beaten by a neck on her last outing, Bolshoi Ballet (25/1) will be fancying her chances for Gold Cup glory later this month.
After just missing out to Coltrane at Ascot last month, Wise Eagle (33/1) will be hoping he can push the Gold Cup favourite close again on this occasion. Big Call (40/1) has shown he can stay across many of his races but he needs to figure out how to stay strong towards the final furlong to have a chance at winning the Gold Cup.
Rajinsky (40/1) also featured in that race and was well beaten and finished at the back of the field. Lone Eagle (40/1) has only run at Ascot once previously, back in 2021. The five-year-old struggled to keep up the pace with the leaders towards the finish.
Tashkhan (50/1) finished fifth in last year’s Gold Cup and gave a prominent ride for much of the race, only lacking stamina when he most needed it in the final furlong. Ascot has not been a happy hunting ground for Nate The Great (50/1) with a second-placed finish the best in six rides there.
Princess Anne (100/1) will be making her Ascot bow but with her lack of experience, she is a huge outsider for the Gold Cup crown.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
