Group Two British Champions Long Distance Cup Guide 2022

Harry Haskell | @HarryHaskell4

Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
5(5)
Hollie Doyle

Trueshan

J: Hollie Doyle
T: Alan King
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-9
OR: 123
Days: 34

Trueshan will have to bounce back after a couple of disappointing efforts. He was beaten at odds of 2/9f last time out by Coltrane in the Doncaster Cup, and there was a short head back to Lismore in third.

We all know Trueshan is capable of exponentially better than that. He has won the last two renewals of this impressively, he will be looking to make it three in a row.

He should be feared by all, likely getting suitable ground too.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
30/09/23LON20GS9-21
15/09/23DON18Sft9-71
03/05/23ASC16GS9-94
12/04/23NOT14Sft9-102
15/10/22ASC16GS9-91
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
2(2)
Tom Marquand

Quickthorn

J: Tom Marquand
T: Hughie Morrison
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-9
OR: 117
Days: 14

Quickthorn was readily put away by the eye-wateringly impressive Kyprios at Longchamp a couple of weeks ago.

The ground was described as “Very Soft” there, and that may have been understating it – either way – it probably didn’t showcase Quickthorn to best affect.

He has won on heavy, but his preference seems to be a better surface. His level form throughout this season has improved with every run, as proven when winning the Lonsdale Cup at York by as many as 14L, making all.

He will be a danger if left unattended at the head of affairs.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/08/23GOO16GS9-111
17/06/23YOR14GF9-21
19/05/23YOR14GF9-34
25/03/23MEY16Gd9-16
15/10/22ASC16GS9-95
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
3(7)
William Buick

Stratum

J: William Buick
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 9-9
OR: 108
Days: 34

Stratum probably ran too badly to be true last time out in the Doncaster Cup, he was 41L tailed off last, and that’s not cumulative, that was to the fifth, Get Shirty.

If he’s ok and that was just a throwaway run, he may well have an outside chance of running into a place.

He won the Queen Alexandra Stakes a Royal Ascot in June and it was a good race, he saw out the extended 2m5f trip well, and he has more stamina than most of these.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
12/08/23KLB25Y11-02
04/08/23GAL14Y9-53
24/06/23ASC21.5GF9-77
19/05/23LEO14Gd9-58
12/11/22AUT24Hy10-107
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
1(3)
David Probert

Coltrane

J: David Probert
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-9
OR: 113
Days: 34

Coltrane has drastically improved this season, bettering his official rating of 97 that he had around this time last season. He’s definitely running to a figure somewhere between 110/115 which is pretty close to the top stayers in the division.

He’s still maturing and he took the scalp of Trueshan last time out over 2m2f in the G2 Doncaster Cup. On that form, he holds the measure of Trueshan, and that may well be the level needed to win.

Hugely interesting.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/08/23YOR16.5GF9-51
01/08/23GOO16GS9-113
22/06/23ASC20GF9-42
03/05/23ASC16GS9-91
15/10/22ASC16GS9-92
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
6(6)
James Doyle

Wordsworth

J: James Doyle
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 107
Days: 20

Wordsworth has failed to get his head back in front since his win at odds of 4/11f in April.

He has ran some solid enough races in defeat, but there’s always been a suspicion he’s just shy of the very top level. He stays the trip but Waterville looks the stables number one here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/07/23BAL17Gd11-122
23/06/23DRO16Gd9-54
15/10/22ASC16GS9-96
25/09/22CUR16.5Y9-1313
24/06/22CUR14Gd9-113
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
8(8)
Ryan Moore

Waterville

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 107
Days: 20

Waterville is virtually unexposed as a stayer, he’s only raced six times, and just the twice over a trip of 2 miles or more.

He’s won both “long distance” races fairly convincingly, not by pulling lengths clear of the field, but in the manner he’s won.

He was last rounding the bend for home last time out in at The Curragh but he somehow managed to weave through and win decisively by a neck.

He is a serious threat to all.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
30/09/23RAN12Gd7-1215
23/09/23RSH9.5Gd9-24
15/10/22ASC16GS9-08
25/09/22CUR16.5Y8-91
21/07/22LEO13Gd10-02
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
7(1)
David Egan

Eldar Eldarov

J: David Egan
T: Roger Varian
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 116
Days: 34

Eldar Eldarov, the St Leger winner, is a hugely interesting horse here.He steps up to two miles for the first time in his career but when racing over a mile and three quarters he’s impressed in the latter stages of the race, looking better and better at the finish.

He gives the impression that the trip will be no issue, and as a classic winning horse who’s lifetime form reads as four out of five, he must be feared.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/08/23GOO16GS9-114
22/06/23ASC20GF9-37
19/05/23YOR14GF9-82
15/10/22ASC16GS9-07
11/09/22DON14.5GS9-31
Ascot - October 14 2022
Ascot 12:25
4(4)
Frankie Dettori

Trawlerman

J: Frankie Dettori
T: John & Thady Gosden
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 106
Days: 56

Trawlerman is looking for three on the bounce here, after an impressive summer. He won the Summer Handicap at Sandown well, and then bettered himself to win the hugely valuable Ebor Handicap at the Ebor Festival at York.

He won in determined fashion there, but he didn’t give the impression that he necessarily needs further. If he stays the trip he could be a player, but then there’s a class suspicion.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
15/09/23SAL14GF9-71
25/03/23MEY16Gd9-114
25/02/23JAN15GF9-38
15/10/22ASC16GS9-93
20/08/22YOR14GF9-31