Group Two Lonsdale Cup Guide 2022

The Gosden 8 year old superstar, Stradivarius spent the majority of his career at the top of the staying food chain but has since seen younger legs get the better of him recently.

A career that has seen him win 3 Ascot Gold Cups, 4 Goodwood Cups and a plethora of other staying races. Returning to action this season in the Yorkshire Cup, he looked his old self when handily quickening clear of Thunderous.

Trapped against the rail at Ascot, Kyprios had already made his race winning move and he’d left Stradivarius behind.

Taking on that same rival again last time out, he only just failed to reel in Kyprios to go down by only a neck. He still looks to retain plenty of ability and can gain compensation for his narrow group 1 defeat here.

Widely seen in handicaps throughout his career, Reshoun is a well versed 8 year old staying type for Ian Williams.
A massive 39 career runs have seen him pick up 7 wins.

He scored in a handicap on his penultimate start off a mark of 101 but failed to fire when last seen at Goodwood off a lofty enough rating of 104.

This is his first foray into group racing and despite coming into it with plenty of experience and a decent enough official mark, he’ll likely be left wanting for quality in this company.

At the foot of the betting currently is Andrew Balding’s Nate The Great. The 6 year old has mainly found his success in handicaps over the years and has shown a liking for Newcastle’s all weather course over the years.

He has had his sights aimed higher this season. Off the back of a handicap win he went close to be 2nd behind Quickthorn in the Henry II Stakes before not staying in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Last seen dipping his toe into group one company for the first time he was well outclassed in the Goodwood Cup and finished last of the 9 runners.

Likely to be left in the rear again here.

Alan King’s stayer hit the top of the tree when easily skipping clear to win the British Champion Stayers race in 2020 in an impressive fashion.

Unable to win the Northumberland Plate last year off top weight, he did manage to win the Goodwood Cup on his favoured soft ground. Backing that up to beat Stradivarius in the Prix Du Cadran over in France, he rounded out the season with another Champion Stayers win only 2 weeks later.

Returning to action this season with an impressive win in a listed race, he then produced a weight carrying masterclass to shoulder top weight in the Northumberland Plate to a historic success.

Unable to cope with fast ground at Goodwood last time out, connections will be praying for rain to see him to full effect here.

Hughie Morrisons 5 year old Quickthorn has taken to life as a stayer this season.

Spending the early parts of his career as a handicapper over middle distances, he hinted that his future could lie over further when coming a very narrow 2nd in the Ebor last year.

Going on to score a conditions race over 14 furlongs off the back of that, he was then outpaced over 12 furlongs behind an impressive looking Hukum.

This season he has been beaten by Trueshan on return before narrowly being denied by Princess Zoe in the Sagaro Stakes.

He has since won the Henry II Stakes at Sandown and then a group 2 event over 14 furlongs in France. He’s improving as a staying type but it’s unlikely he has the quality of the first two in the betting.

After looking a decent enough handicapper as a 3 year old, Coltrane found himself gelded at the end of his opening campaign which included an impressive win in the Melrose Handicap at York.

His form dipped off thereafter when running on the all-weather and having a lengthy lay off. But coming back to turf recently saw him improve again.

A close 2nd over 18.5 furlongs at Chester behind Cleveland, he then scored the Ascot Stakes smartly before a lethal display in a listed race at Sandown over 2 miles last month.

Last seen in the Goodwood Cup, he wasn’t disgraced in his first foray into group company and came home 4th. He could pick up a place here and is still improving as a stayer.

Mainly seen in handicaps during his career, Tashkan rose the ranks with a few low level wins and handled the handicappers' raises and moving up in trip.

Finishing the season with some decent runs in group races. Coming 5th in the Prix Chaudenay behind Monobo and then coming a very good 2nd to Trueshan in the British Champion Stayers’ race.

The gelding has been beating in all his outings this season. Being fended off by Princess Zoe here at Ascot in the Sagaro Stakes and then by Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup.

He then was a decent enough 5th in the Gold Cup. Outclassed in group 1 company, he’ll struggle to get near the likes of Stradivarius again here.

Gemma Tutty’s 3 year old comes here off the back of an impressive run of handicap victories.

Scoring over 14 furlongs back in May at Redcar in a low level handicap off a mark of 60, he scored over the same trip next time out despite a 5lbs raise by the handicapper. Bumped up again to a rating of 71, he managed to go in again with plenty in hand.

Moved up to 2 miles, he found yet more improvement to score narrowly off a rating of 80. He still hadn’t hit his ceiling as he scored again last time out smartly despite going up yet another 6lbs.

He’s not been raised 33lbs this season and tries a higher grade. He’s going to have to improve a lot to get competitive in much deeper waters.