Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup betting guide, odds and free tips
THE Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup is an important race for Australian racing as it could have an impact on the Melbourne Cup.
The 4000m feature was won by Trip To Paris in 2015 and fellow Melbourne Cup entrant Kingfisher ran second. This year the boom horse on the scene is Order Of St George which is currently a $17 chance to win the 2016 Melbourne Cup in November.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old is at a much shorter price for Friday morning feature which starts at 1.20am. It’s currently paying $1.90 to win the Ascot Gold Cup in a big field of 18 and the next best runner in the market is the Melbourne Cup-performed Max Dynamite at $8.
Expect the result to have a big impact on the Melbourne Cup and a big impact on your betting account if you find the winner. Open an account with Sportsbet.com.au which has every Royal Ascot race covered this week.
Ascot Gold Cup market and odds
1. Clever Cookie – $9
2. Curbyourenthusiasm – $21
3. Flying Officer – $12
4. Fun Mac – $34
5. Griraz – $201
6. Max Dynamite – $8
7. Mille Et Mille – $34
8. Mizzou – $9
9. Pallasator – $12
10. Scotland – $17
11. Sheikzayedroad – $34
12. Suegioo – $51
13. Burmese – $41
14. Order Of St George – $1.90 at Bet365.com.au
15. The Twisler – $101
16. Tiberian – $34
17. Wasir – $101
18. Kicky Blue – $51
Its not often punters will find a $1.90 favourite in the Ascot Gold Cup. The extreme staying race is typically a wide-open affair with the favourite sitting at around $7, but this is a rare case and it has attracted plenty of excitement.
The colt by Galileo has won five from 10 career starts, including its last four. Its biggest win to date came two starts back in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger at The Curragh and it was impressive in winning the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last start. It did suffer a minor injury setback prior to that run, but it came through it very well and O’Brien is confident heading into the Ascot Gold Cup.
Its longest run came over 2800m which is significantly shorter than what it faces here, so there is some concern for punters, but its breeding suggests it will have no problem seeing it out. There could be concern for the likely slow surface it will face on Friday morning, but Joseph O’Brien, son of Aidan O’Brien, said it can handle all track conditions.
“He handled the ground fine. He handles quick and soft ground, he’s just a very good horse,” O’Brien said.
Taking $1.90 isn’t an easy bet, but bad luck rarely plays a part in such a long staying race. It’s clearly the best horse in the race and the big punters will be supporting it.
Ascot Gold Cup upset chances and tips
It is not all about Order Of St George. There are 17 other chances and some smart types included. Max Dynamite stands out as the main danger at $8.
The six-year-old gelding for trainer Willie Mullins has had only one start since the 2015 Melbourne Cup where it produced a stellar performance for second behind Prince Of Penzance. Its only run since was for third in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes where it finished in behind race-rivals Pallasator ($12) and Suegioo ($51).
It needed that run as a freshen up and although it hasn’t faced the 4000m distance before, the slower tempo as opposed to the Melbourne Cup should play into its favour. It has yet to win a group 1 from 11 starts and despite running into a smart type in this, it could topple the favourite at $8 with Sportsbet.
Last start winner Clever Cookie looks a strong chance on the third line of betting at $9. The eight-year-old was a winner in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup and having had three starts in 2016 should have it rock-hard fit for this. Its form prior included three consecutive placings behind Mizzou which is also a solid chance at $9. Both runners are bred to see out the distance and should give each way punters a good sight.
John Gosden lines up Flying Officer. The gelding by Dynaformer finished third behind Mizzou and Clever Cookie in the Sagaro Stakes, but it defeated Clever Cookie in the Group 2 British Champions Long Distance Cup prior to that. The win came over 3200m so the increase in distance won’t worry it and it represents good each way value at $12 with Sportsbet. Champion jockey Frankie Dettori rides which can only be seen as a positive.
Pallasator is on the same line of $12. The Sir Mark Prescott-trained gelding is one of the most experienced runners in the field with 18 starts under its belt and it comes into this having won the Group 3 Henry II Stakes. It has form around the likes of Max Dynamite, Flying Officer and Suegioo, but not Order Of St George. That’s the only worry with backing the longer-priced runners, the unknown, but there is value to be snapped up.