GOLD CUP [GROUP ONE]  TWO MILES FOUR FURLONGS

BADDAM
5yo bay horse; Mujahid – Aude La Belle
Trained by Mick Channon
Form: 5370-2
“Baddam enjoyed a storming Royal Ascot 2006 winning the Ascot Stakes and the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes. He ran a sound race to chase home Tungsten Strike in the Sagaro Stakes last month. He’ll certainly be boxing-on here and will enjoy the 2 ½ miles more than many but might not have the class to colt with a true Group One horse such as Yeats or Sergeant Cecil.”
                                   
GEORDIELAND
6yo grey horse; Johann Quatz – Aerdee
Trained by Jamie Osborne
Form: 40-252
“Geordieland ran a fine race to finish three quarters of a length second to Sergeant Cecil in the Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire last month. At least he showed no ill effects from a harrowing trip down-under last autumn when finishing well in arrears in the Melbourne Cup (he broke a blood vessel). His trainer thinks he has improved since York and hopes to have the services of Jamie Spencer who gets on well with the horse. However, the facts show that Geordieland is on a losing run of eleven and hasn’t won for two years – also was well beaten by Yeats in the Goodwood Cup. There looks to be a very slim chance of him not stretching that run to 12 here.

LORD DU SUD
6yo grey horse; Linamix – Marseillaise
Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget
Form: 214-41
“There’s a fair chance that we’ll see plenty of Lord Du Sud at the head of proceedings in the Gold Cup. His front-running tactics certainly paid off at Longchamp last month when he made all under Christophe Lemaire to win a Group Two race over two miles. He finished one place behind Sergeant Cecil in the Prix Royal-Oak last October where both horses finished behind Montare.  His presence and pace should ensure a decent gallop.”

MONTARE
5yo bay mare; Montjeu – Contare
Trained by Jonathan Pease
Form: 211-73
“Montare certainly has relished the opportunity to race over two miles – the extra four furlongs at Ascot is unknown territory. Despite flashing her tail and jinking left she ended 2006 by winning the Group One Prix Royal-Oak (Sergeant Cecil and Lord du Sud 3rd and 4th). She ran respectably on her most recent start but this time was 2½ lengths behind Lord du Sud and looks set for a minor, rather than starring, role here.”

SERGEANT CECIL
8yo chestnut gelding; King’s Signet – Jadidh
Trained by Rod Millman
Form: 113-41
“The Nation’s Favourite – what a star! He showed at York last month that it’s business as usual by beating Geordieland in a Knavesmire thriller. Sergeant Cecil is probably at his best at that track – four wins there certainly offer strong evidence. He could possibly be rated a little unlucky behind Yeats in last year’s Gold Cup, as he was hampered about two furlongs out and lost valuable momentum. His crowning moment in 2006 was when winning the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp under a superb ride from Frankie Dettori. At current prices (around 5-1) he’s probably a better value each-way bet than the odds-on favourite Yeats. We’ve now learnt to never underestimate this wonderful horse – he won’t be far away – and if he wins, the biggest roar of the week is a dead-cert.”

TUNGSTEN STRIKE
6yo chestnut gelding; Smart Strike – Bathilde
Trained by Amanda Perrett
Form: 377-15
“Tungsten Strike finished eighth behind Yeats in the 2006 Gold Cup. There were encouraging signs of another bold run this year after winning the Sagaro Stakes (beat Baddam) last month but one or two of the wheels fell off next time when he beat only two home in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park. He made all at Ascot and similar tactics failed to work at Sandown. Not encouraging.

YEATS
6yo bay horse; Sadler’s Wells – Lyndonville
Trained by Aidan O’Brien
Form: 127-11
“Twelve months ago Yeats was attempting a dramatic step up in distance – prior to winning the Gold Cup this one time Derby favourite had never tackled a trip further than 1¾ miles. As we now know he relished the stamina test and followed up by winning the Goodwood Cup (by 5 lengths from Geordieland). This spring Yeats has limbered up for another Gold Cup victory by winning listed races at Navan and Leopardstown. There have certainly been no ill effects from his trip down under last autumn when he ran a fair race in the Melbourne Cup (7th, 8 lengths behind Delta Blues). A repeat victory seems very likely, especially when you consider that his main market rival Sergeant Cecil (5th in 2006 but hampered 2f out) has nearly 9 lengths to make up!”