Ascot racing tip: Sweet William can turn tables on three-time Long Distance Cup champion Trueshan
Royal Ascot
British Champions Day kicks off with the Long Distance Cup, which throws some of racing’s best stayers together over a testing two-mile trip.
13:15 British Champions Long Distance Cup (2 miles)
Kyprios is likely to be sent off as the favourite, with most pundits willing to forgive his second place at the Curragh six weeks ago as nothing more than a pipe-opener in his only 2023 outing since going six races unbeaten in 2022.
Trueshan and Hollie Doyle will be looking to team up for their fourth straight win in this race, having landed it as an 11/1 shot in 2020, and then as a short-priced favourite in the last two renewals.
Alan King’s seven-year-old has not been at his best for most of the season, but might just be coming good at the right time after backing up his Doncaster Cup triumph in September with an impressive run to land the Prix Du Cadran by four lengths at Longchamp three weeks ago.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if the favourite (inc. joint or co) wins, get a £5 Free Bet!
The remaining six rivals and will all go to post with the justified optimism of proven performers, with Coltrane likely to bounce back for Andrew Balding under Oisin Murphy, while last year’s Ebor winner Trawlerman has won his last two outings by a combined 31 lengths and could give Frankie Dettori a decent opening ride on his last Champions Day appearance.
If there are no withdrawals and the field remains at eight starters, then Sweet William might be worth considering as an each-way option for the in-form Gosden yard.
Yet to finish outside the first two in eight outings (three wins, five runners-up), this tidy four-year-old had to give second best to Trueshan in the Doncaster Cup Stakes last time out, and even if he fails to reverse that form, if he can stay within the same 1.25 lengths of the three-time champion, then that could well be enough to put him in the frame yet again.
Suggested bet: Sweet William each-way in the 13:15 at Ascot
- Tip advised by Interesting Method on Tipstrr
