In what is arguably the premier event on the UK & Ireland’s flat racing schedule, the Royal Ascot’s Gold Cup sees some of the sport’s most talented stayers battle it out over two miles and four furlongs every June.
As is the case each year, 2023’s edition is shaping up to be a blockbuster. And while Coltrane, Eldar Eldarov and Emily Dickinson are the first, second and third favourites respectively (at the time of writing), there are plenty of other thoroughbreds in the field who have the form, talent and experience to make it a competitive contest.
Therefore, without further do, read on as we take a look at the outsiders who have the potential to cause an upset in the Gold Cup.
Trueshan
With exceptional course and distance form to his name, coupled with the fact he has beaten the favourite Coltrane at Ascot before, Trueshan is a tempting price at 14/1 if you’re looking for a bet on Royal Ascot. While the Alan King-trained horse’s showings of late haven’t been anything to write home about, the seven-year-old has enough runs on the board in prominent fixtures to remain a threat.
With 13 career victories thus far, three of which have come at the famed Ascot course, don’t be surprised to see Trueshan there or thereabouts up the straight.
Subjectivist
Although six-year-old Subjectivist isn’t entering in the best of form, write off a former champion at your own risk. The Charlie Johnston-trained horse famously reigned supreme in the Gold Cup two years ago, where he led four out and held on strong down the stretch to win by five lengths from 28/1 outsider Princess Zoe.
Subsequent to that triumph, Subjectivist had a lengthy spell away from the track after sustaining a serious leg injury. He remarkably returned to action in a Group 3 at Riyadh in January, and unsurprisingly, looked rusty as he went on to finish 12th in a field of 13. The son of Teofilo would vastly improve in his next outing, however, displaying a good engine en route to a third-placed result in a Group 2 at Meydan.
If he can continue on that trajectory and further improve on his most recent performance when he saddles up at Ascot, he’s in with a chance come June 22.
Unlike much of his competition, Johnston decided it was better for Subjectivist to head straight to the Gold Cup after his last outing in March, rather than racing him in big meets such as the Yorkshire Cup.
“The plan now for him all being well and should we be able to get him there, is to go straight to Ascot,” Johnston said in April.
Point Lonsdale
Arguably in the best form of his career, Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale has kicked off his 2023 campaign exceptionally well. With back-to-back Group wins at the Curragh and Chester respectively, the promising four-year-old couldn’t be in better nick. He also has course form in his favour, having reigned victorious in the Chesham Stakes by half a length from Reach for the Moon in 2021.
For those who like Point Lonsdale’s chances of taking his connections home the £340,000 awarded to the winner, he is garnering odds of 9/1.