Get the full lowdown on the Gold Cup (4.20) from our team of tipping experts in our extensive runner-by-runner guide.
Gold Cup: forecast betting odds for the big race
Horses listed in racecard order
Coltrane – 40-1
Dubai Future – 33-1
Sweet William – 6-1
Trawlerman – 11-4
Wonder Legend – 33-1
Yashin – 22-1
Candelari – 7-2
Illinois – 13-8
Gold Cup: final declarations and the full list of runners and riders
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.
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Forecast odds: 40-1
Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: Andrew Balding
1m2f Listed winner at this meeting in 2022; has raced over a range of distances in the interim, given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April (second run since a long absence) when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in the closing stages of a steadily run race; this, however, should be much more of a slog and he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat behind Candelari in France last month (the ground probably wasn’t to blame, based on times); a hood joins his usual cheekpieces.
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Jockey: James McDonald
Forecast odds: 33-1
Jky: James McDonald Tnr: Saeed bin Suroor
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but only once failed to give his running (final start 2023) and took well to the visor last season, in which two wins included 2m2f Doncaster Cup in good style; 1m6f on return was surely an insufficient stamina test (still close up) and he was third in this race last year on good to firm, 5l behind Trawlerman but coming from right out the back; has never finished outside the first three.
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Robert Havlin
Forecast odds: 6-1
Jky: Robert Havlin Tnr: John & Thady Gosden
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.
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: William Buick
Forecast odds: 11-4
Jky: William Buick Tnr: John & Thady Gosden
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.
Trainer: James Ferguson
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Forecast odds: 33-1
Jky: Daniel Muscutt Tnr: James Ferguson
Irish 1m6f Group 3 winner in 2023; left Jessica Harrington for 80,000gns last October, given wind surgery and also had tongue tied first time when he reappeared for Group 3 here (2m, good to firm) in April, back with a bang as he was the outsider of four but came through to win by 1l from Coltrane; that was a slowly run race, seemingly not a great pointer for this but it could be argued that he’s unexposed with major stamina tests.
Trainer: Michael Bell
Jockey: Callum Shepherd
Forecast odds: 22-1
Jky: Callum Shepherd Tnr: Michael Bell
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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.
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Jockey: William Buick
Forecast odds: 5-1
Jky: Mickael Barzalona Tnr: F-H Graffard
Won Queen’s Vase here (1m6f, good to firm) last June and went close in the St Leger (14.5f, good) before his Longchamp Group 2 win (1m7f, soft) in October; as good as ever with 1m5f reappearance win at Chester; resolute galloper who races prominently and can make the running, so Ryan Moore may try to dictate; tendency to hang left might again be in evidence in closing stages but he’s looked a thorough stayer at shorter distances and it will be no surprise if he takes Aidan O’Brien’s Gold Cup wins into double figures.
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Forecast odds: 13-8
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Gold Cup verdict
By Richard Austen
Trawlerman looks a fine standard bearer for the older generations, having produced a mighty effort against Kyprios 12 months ago, but he now comes face to face with two four-year-olds of mouthwatering potential. Kyprios has recently been retired but it’s easy to think that stablemate Illinois could step up in trip to be yet another Gold Cup winner for Aidan O’Brien. He’s shown his class in a hatful of big races. Preference, however, is for a rival who has done so only once, such is the impression which CANDELARI (nap)
Jky: Mickael Barzalona Tnr: F-H Graffard
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Read more:
Ascot Gold Cup runners, ratings and key trainer quotes: David Jennings’ pinstickers’ guide
‘Aidan knows what it takes’ – but can punters be confident Illinois is the new Kyprios?
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