Key contenders and trainer views as Order Of St George bids to regain his crown

4.20 Royal Ascot
Gold Cup | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RUK

O'Brien ace in great order

Beaten a short head by Big Orange a year ago when bidding for back-to-back wins in the race, Order Of St George returns to Royal Ascot to try to regain the stayers' crown.

His victory two years ago provided Aidan O'Brien with a seventh Gold Cup, following his four-timer with the majestic Yeats, plus Fame And Glory (2011) and Leading Light (2014).

Twice a winner of the Irish St Leger, Order Of St George is two from two in Ireland this season, following up his win in the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in April by landing the Listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

Ryan Moore will be seeking a third win in the race, which he won on Estimate in 2013 before partnering Order Of St George to victory two years ago.

O'Brien said: "It was always the plan to bring Order Of St George back to try to win the race again.

"We were pleased with his two wins this year anJd his preparation has gone well. We're happy with him. He's shown himself adaptable in terms of ground, having won on soft and on good to firm."

Pros Solid Group 1 form, having won this race in 2016 before losing out narrowly a year ago

Cons While he has won on fast ground, easier conditions probably suit him better

New staying star bids to come of age

It is 26 years since Frankie Dettori won the first of his five Gold Cups. John Gosden has never before won Royal Ascot's most historic prize. Dettori will try to bring his main stable's Gold Cup drought to an end with Stradivarius.

With victory in this season's Yorkshire Cup locked away, the £1 million Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million bonus will surely be somewhere in the minds of the Stradivarius team.

However, before that becomes a serious possibility the progressive four-year-old must first add his name to the greatest of all Royal Ascot honour rolls.

Bjorn Nielsen's son of Sea The Stars has a serious chance of doing just that.

Since York he has challenged Order Of St George for Gold Cup favouritism yet, unlike the Ballydoyle stalwart – who had a length in hand on Stradivarius in the British Champions Long Distance Cup – the young pretender is untested beyond two miles.

"We've been very happy with him since his comeback win at York and this is his main summer target," said Gosden.

Frankie Dettori executed a flying dismount off Stradivarius after winning the Yorkshire Cup. He will hope to execute another at AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's a race with great depth, as it always is. There are many familiar faces in there, but our horse is going into uncharted waters as he's never gone beyond two miles before.

"There will be no hiding place from the turn for home and it will be interesting to see how he gets on. The ground should be fine for him."

Pros: The rising force of the staying scene and lots to like about his Yorkshire Cup return
Cons: Has yet to race over this trip and so his stamina is uncertain

First time for Vazirabad

Vazirabad, who has been rated among Europe’s best stayers ever since landing the Group 1 Prix Royal Oak as a three-year-old in October 2015, finally makes his maiden start in Britain after missing the last two Gold Cups.

Two years ago the Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupre judged the striking son of Manduro too inexperienced to handle the rigours of Ascot, while 12 months ago an injury sustained in his warm-up race scuppered plans.

“Twice previously we had to stop with him and it took quite a while to get the real Vazirabad back, but we've had a clear run through Longchamp and up to the race, so that helps,” said Royer-Dupre.

Now six, Vazirabad retains the gear change that marked him out as so effective in previous seasons, but also showed himself capable of sustaining his challenge when coming from way back to win a third consecutive Dubai Gold Cup in March, before enjoying an easy prep victory in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.

Just as importantly, he has run gun-barrel straight on both starts, something that has not always been the case in the past.

As ever, Christophe Soumillon will be keen not to hit the front too soon, since his partner tends to think he has done enough at that stage.

“I think he's better than ever this season, but the only thing is that I don’t think he'll ever have run on such quick ground before, so that's something new,” said Royer-Dupre.

“There are two or three very good horses in opposition and it might be down to who gets the run of the race.”

Pros A three-time Group 1 winner with a fine turn of foot, he has long looked a candidate for this race and is enjoying an excellent season

Cons Christophe Soumillon will have to time his challenge just right as Vazirabad can idle in front

Torcedor on a different Gold trail

Winning Gold Cups is something Jessica Harrington has got used to. A Cheltenham Gold Cup, an Irish Gold Cup and a Punchestown Gold Cup have all come her way.

But victory for Torcedor would be something new and wonderful for the trainer, who has yet to have a Royal Ascot winner.

Fifth in the race a year ago, Torcedor won the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last month.

Harrington said of Colm O'Donoghue's mount: "He was a good winner of the Sagaro and is fit and good to go again.

"The ground won't be an issue and neither will the distance, so there are plenty of positives. He's taking on some very good horses, but I think he's improved a lot since last year and he should run a big race.

"To have any Royal Ascot winner would be fantastic, but to train an Ascot Gold Cup winner would be absolutely fabulous."

Pros An improved performer since finishing fifth in this race a year ago and capable of bettering that effort

Cons Will need a career-best and, while he goes on fast ground, would probably prefer easier conditions

Desert out to land a punch

One of the very best, and undoubtedly one of the most popular, stayers never to win the Gold Cup was the magnificent Persian Punch, who contested the prize on seven occasions, finishing second twice.

He relished the marathon distance. His trainer David Elsworth expects Desert Skyline to do the same.

Last season's Doncaster Cup winner has finished behind Stradivarius in the Queen's Vase, Goodwood Cup, British Champions Long Distance Cup and Yorkshire Cup, but none of those races were beyond two miles. The extra distance promises to suit Silvestre de Sousa's mount.

Desert Skyline and Silvestre de Sousa teamed up to win the Doncaster CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We've been beaten four times by Stradivarius, so we do have to find a bit, but in our favour is we stay very well," said Elsworth.

"He's been lumbered with a penalty this year, and although he's performed well, we've been organising him for a good run here.

"He does need this extra distance and I expect a good run. If it becomes dour it will be helpful, as he's a tough little horse."

Gold Cup third back on familiar road

Sheikhzayedroad has been a wonderful servant to connections, winning a Group 1 in Canada and the British Champions Long Distance Cup.

He also finished third to Order Of St George in the 2016 Gold Cup, but although trainer David Simcock expects the nine-year-old – the race's oldest runner – to build on his performance in the Henry II Stakes, where he finished last of eight, he is realistic.

He said: "There are two top stayers at the head of the market and my view is that everyone else is playing for places.

"Our horse is now that little bit older, but he's definitely come on for his run at Sandown."

Scotland 'a high-class horse'

Scotland produced the best run of his life when sixth in the Gold Cup. Unfortunately that was in 2015 and over the intervening three years the now seven-year-old has contested only three races, the most recent coming when he performed encouragingly in an Ascot Listed event on his return from a 695-day absence.

"We've always thought he's a high-class horse," said trainer Andrew Balding.

"He ran well in the Gold Cup three years ago and has been working very well. He's in the best form we've had him, but he needs to be because it's a very strong Gold Cup."

Moriah 'in rare form'

Mount Moriah began his season by securing a Listed success at Nottingham. He enters Gold Cup waters having already won at Ascot and notched an excellent fourth on Champions Day.

Trainer Ralph Beckett said: "It's a big ask, but he's in rare form and likes the place."

Hoping Max will be in the money

Max Dynamite has twice reached the first three in the Melbourne Cup and Willie Mullins, whose Simenon ran Estimate to a neck in this race five years ago, is hoping the eight-year-old will grab a slice of the prize-money.

He said: "Max Dynamite has been in great form since running fourth in the Yorkshire Cup. He'll handle the ground and should be staying on at the end.

"However, looking at the race, if he can run in the first five it will be a good result."

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