Can Trueshan recapture his best in a stellar running of the Long Distance Cup?

Saturday: 1.25 Ascot
Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) (British Champions Series) | 2m | 3yo+ | ITV/Sky

What to make of Trueshan? Turn the clock back four months and he was the outstanding stayer of his generation having carried 10st 8lb to victory in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. However, that title now resides with Kyprios, and Trueshan's form has taken a quick downward turn.

According to Racing Post Ratings, he was 8lb below his best when a length and a half behind Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup, while his latest display at Doncaster was even more lacklustre.

Trueshan was defeated a neck by Coltrane, who he had beaten by more than three lengths at Goodwood, in the Doncaster Cup with Lismore only a short head behind in third. When you consider that Lismore was rated 105 and Trueshan 124, that shows how far he had fallen.

Alan King blamed the ground at Goodwood for his poor run at Doncaster, suggesting that Trueshan was remembering his run on unsuitably quick conditions on the South Downs and therefore didn't let himself down properly in the Doncaster Cup. He certainly wandered so maybe that is true.

It's also possible that, given he carried so much weight in the Northumberland Plate, he had a harder race than originally thought. Whatever the explanation, he has a bit to prove now.

Trueshan will need to be right back to his best to win what looks like a stellar running of the race.

St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov bids to prove he can mix it with the best stayers, and the form of his Doncaster win got a boost when sixth El Habeeb and third Giavellotto filled the first two places in the Noel Murless at Ascot.

However, a winning RPR of 117 for Eldar Eldarov at Doncaster made it the worst St Leger since Harbour Law's victory in 2016 and no three-year-old has won this race since it was moved to this card in 2011.

Aidan O'Brien has dominated the division with Kyprios and he saddles the other three-year-old, Waterville, who won the Irish Cesarewitch and now steps into Group company.

Waterville has 6lb to find with Eldar Eldarov on RPRs and is 9lb off Quickthorn, who appears to have been written off by bookmakers after a poor run at Longchamp two weeks ago.

He was never travelling at any point in that race, though, and had thrashed the reopposing Coltrane by 14 lengths at York on his previous start. Quickthorn is far from a no-hoper if he can bounce back from his French failure.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'His work has been good' - Egan excited by Eldar Eldarov

The apprentice versus one of the masters of the staying game. This is what the Long Distance Cup was invented for. Eldar Eldarov has proven himself to be the best stayer of the Classic generation by winning the St Leger and now he is out to teach the old dogs a few new tricks.

David Egan knows the colt inside out having been on board for all his five starts, from beating Janoobi by five lengths on his debut to conquering New London at Doncaster.

It is Eldar Eldarov's first time taking on his elders, but the way he powered through the line in the St Leger suggests he is ready for the challenge.

Egan said: "He's got a good chance. It's a good draw and the step up in trip will prove no problem; he will stay two miles well. The ground won't be an issue and he's come out of the St Leger well. His work has been good; all has been good leading up to the race."

What they say

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Quickthorn
He obviously ran well below his form in France and never seemed to be going a yard in the ground. His form before then was very good and I'd like to think if he runs his race he should be competitive.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Stratum
He was disappointing at Doncaster and we're putting blinkers on him for the first time and a tongue strap. He looks like he has plenty on his plate but he loves Ascot and if he could finish third or fourth it would be a lovely end to his season.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Trawlerman
He's out of the handicap ranks now after winning the Ebor. It's a tough race, but he deserves to take his chance and I expect him to stay. He would probably prefer better ground than it will be through Swinley Bottom, where it will be soft and holding.

Alan King, trainer of Trueshan
He needed a break from the weather gods, and everyone at Barbury was delighted to wake up on Thursday morning to news from Ascot that 4.2mm of rain had fallen overnight. Consequently, it's all systems go for Trueshan to defend his crown. We are taking nothing for granted, but our fellow has done everything asked of him since Doncaster and now we have to leave it to Hollie [Doyle].

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Wordsworth and Waterville
We were delighted with Waterville at the Curragh. He obviously did very well to win in the circumstances and we have had our eye on this race for him for a while. It's obviously a big step up, but we've been very happy with him since the Cesarewitch and it's going to be interesting to see how he gets on. Wordsworth will come on from the Curragh. That was his first run for a while and we think he has improved since then.
Reporting by David Jennings

Champions Day previews:

2.00 Ascot: 'He’s the one they’ve got to beat' - Appleby confident as top sprinters clash

2.40 Ascot: Can Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn bounce back from King George flop?

3.20 Ascot: 'The small field makes it trappier' - John Gosden on hot QEII favourite Inspiral

4.00 Ascot: Will it be 11 and out or can anyone spoil 'incredible' Baaeed's retirement party?

4.40 Ascot: 'He leads Baaeed every day'- who has had the ideal Balmoral prep?

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