'I don't see the point in taking on him again' - Champions Day off the radar for Trueshan as Alan King plans to avoid Kyprios

One of Qipco British Champions Day's leading stayers will not turn up this year as Trueshan is set to swerve another clash with Kyprios in the Long Distance Cup (1.20).

The popular eight-year-old has been a fixture at the Ascot season finale for the last four years, winning three runnings of the staying event from 2020 to 2022 before finishing fourth to Trawlerman last year, when Kyprios finished second.

However, his trainer Alan King is keen to avoid a repeat of last Saturday's Prix du Cadran, in which Trueshan finished second to Kyprios, having also finished fourth behind him in the Goodwood Cup. It was the Ballydoyle stayer's sixth success in a flawless campaign and the eighth Group 1 of his career.

"It was a terrific effort," King said. "We were taking on one of the greats, so there was no disgrace in finishing second. He ran well at the end of last season and earlier this season he was facing an impossible task with a 7lb penalty. He still runs to a very consistent level."

Trueshan showed an excellent attitude to hold on to second from Coltrane by a neck under James Doyle, when his regular rider Hollie Doyle was claimed to partner Nashwa in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Trueshan and Hollie Doyle have their pursuers chasing in vain as they win the Long Distance Cup on Champions DayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The winner of the 2021 and 2023 Cadran, Trueshan could return to France for the Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud on October 27. The Group 1 takes place over the shorter distance of 1m7½f.

"He won't go to Ascot," King said. "If he runs again he'll go to the Royal-Oak. It gives me an extra week and I really don't see the point in taking on Kyprios again. It will be back to France or put him away until next year."

It is a busy time for the dual-purpose trainer as the jumps horses near a return and he issued an upbeat bulletin on his star chaser Edwardstone, who has been earmarked for an early season clash with Jonbon.

"All of the jumps team is in good form," he said. "Edwardstone's owners and breeders were here yesterday. He'll hopefully start off in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November. It's a good time of year because they're all unbeaten at the moment!"

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.20 Ascot, October 19)

Paddy Power: 8-11 Kyprios, 11-4 Trawlerman, 7-2 Al Nayyir, 9-2 Sweet William, 8 Illinois, 10 The Euphrates, Trueshan, 16 bar

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