The Long Distance Cup kicks off the British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday. This opener is going to be all about STRADIVARIUS who is the odds-on favourite.
It looks like on paper, his race to lose. The Long Distance Cup is a Group 2 fixture and the 2020 edition has 13 declared runners.
It’s a 2m test for the runners. Last year’s winner was KEW GARDENS from a 7/2 SP (D O’Brien / A P O’Brien).
Ascot Long Distance Cup
Stradivarius Even money
Search For A Song 6/1
Fujaira Prince 9/1
Dawn Patrol 12/1
Sovereign 9/1
Broome 14/1
Spanish Mission 16/1
Morando 16/1
Trueshan 18/1
Max Vega 40/1
Monica Sheriff 40/1
Mildenberger 66/1
Dubious Affair 80/1
* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at William Hill
Table of Contents
- 1 Stradivarius odds-on favourite in Ascot Long Distance Cup Odds
- 2 Search For A Song the biggest threat to the favourite?
- 3 Spanish Mission seeking a hattrick
- 4 Can Fujaira Prince crown some fine form?
- 5 Place claims for Trueshan?
- 6 Sovereign to respond
- 7 Others to note
- 8 Predictions & Tips for Long Distance Cup Racing Odds
Stradivarius odds-on favourite in Ascot Long Distance Cup Odds
The brilliant STRADIVARIUS is the even money favourite for Saturday’s Long Distance Cup at Ascot* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020).
His last effort was at the Arc recently, where he was seventh.
But that can be written off easily as he has dominated the British scene for the last couple of years.
The 12f trip at the Arc clearly didn’t suit him, so he will be far more comfortable and in his wheelhouse at the 2m distance.
Stradivarius should be able to get back to winning ways. There is a big chance that he will bounce back immediately and he has to be on the shortlist.
Search For A Song the biggest threat to the favourite?
Coming into the 2m trip for the first time is SEARCH FOR A SONG. S
he is the 6/1 second-favourite for Long Distance Cup* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020).
She scored a good win on her last run, that coming in the Irish St Leger.
That was the career best effort from her, the second time that she has won that particular fixture.
Fujaira Prince was behind her in that contest. Search For A Song looks a decent enough fit to stay the 2m.
The 4 year old is now coming on strong and has Oisin Murphy booked.
Spanish Mission seeking a hattrick
A runner in the Long Distance Cup 2020 who won’t mind the ground being softer is SPANISH MISSION.
He is a 16/1 e/w option for the trip* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020).
His form is right there as well having won his last two. Spanish Mission has scored in both trips since linking up with Andrew Blading.
He delivered the goods at the Doncaster Cup on his last trip. That followed up a score in a Listed run at Chester three weeks prior.
The level of opposition that he faces in this one is a lot stiffer than what Spanish Mission was up against in the Doncaster Cup. He could be a player with place claims though.
Can Fujaira Prince crown some fine form?
Make no mistake, FUJAIRA PRINCE has been good this season. Excellent in fact.
He was coming on so well in the last campaign, that he hasn’t missed a beat in taking things further.
Fujaira Prince was last seen in the Irish St Leger where he found Search For A Song too good only. That saw him miss out on a hat-trick. The trip is going to make or break him.
He looked to be lacking the staying qualities that Search For A Song showed on the day. The conditions may not help either.
Fujaira Prince is a 9/1 option* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020).
Place claims for Trueshan?
TRUESHAN is a battler and won’t be too bothered by the heavy conditions. He will happily scrap it out on the mud. A couple of races ago he finished down in 8th place in the Ebor.
It was a solid and respectable run, but a long way from success. But he showed much better on his subsequent trip, winning at 14f under conditions at Salisbury, giving him two wins in his last three.
Trueshan has Hollie Doyle booked for Saturday and will launch place claims from a current 18/1* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020).
Sovereign to respond
In his penultimate run, SOVEREIGN claimed a second-place finish here at Ascot. That was in King George and it showed the potential he had.
That sent him off as the favourite in his next trip, which was in the Irish St Leger.
But he had a below-par run in that one and needed to bounce back. He was eight lengths back of winner Search For A Song in that contest.
But Saturday’s trip is far more to his liking in coming on the extra couple of furlongs.
So he may bring a bold challenge from 9/1* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020).
Others to note
BROOME is an interesting one as he takes on the 2m trip for the first time. He has proven himself over 1m 4f.
Broome had a good reappearance run in the Coronation Cup in June at Newmarket, taking fourth.
He hasn’t been seen since, however. Will that be too long of a break against match-fit players?
MILDENBERGER showed up very well when taking second place in the Sagaro Stakes in June. He then went off into a break for four months.
His return didn’t see him at his sharpest best when he was last in a field of four at Newmarket last month.
DAWN PATROL has to be worth looking at as well. He will have to find a career-best here. But he was third in the Irish Derby and then on his last trip he posted a win.
That was at the Curragh in the Loughbrown Stakes, notably the first attempt that he had at 2m.
Predictions & Tips for Long Distance Cup Racing Odds
It has to be all about STRADIVARIUS and we would lean towards him at even money* (betting odds taken from William Hill at 04:43 GMT on Friday, 16th October 2020)..
He is the king of British stayers and he breezed to the Gold Cup win here at Ascot in June.
Stradivarius did have a tough trip in heavy conditions in the Arc recently, but we still see him being untouchable here.
In terms of place claims and other interest in case the former pick has an off-day, we have to look at SEARCH FOR A SONG.
The dual Irish St Leger winner can make a huge impact here as long as he can cope with the conditions.
The other obvious selection for a top three place is FUJAIRA PRINCE. He only narrowly missed out on a hat-trick when he took runner-up at the Irish St Leger.
If there was proven staying over 2m he would be an even bigger threat.
