Ascot Gold Cup Tips: Caballo De Mar can see them all off

The highlight of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting comes along on Thursday with the Gold Cup (16:15, ITV1 & Sky Sports Racing) taking centre stage.

A strong field of 11 contenders has been declared for the showpiece marathon contest, with just shy of £400k on offer to the winner. Aidan O'Brien, who has won this race a record nine times, saddles rising star Scandinavia as last year's Goodwood Cup and St Leger hero takes on his biggest challenge to date aged four.

He's one of three from that age group, with last year's winner Trawlerman and Sweet William - both for John & Thady Gosden - among the more experienced contenders in the line-up.

Horse Racing Odds

A mix of the old and the new in an intriguing renewal of this Royal Ascot marathon.

Trawlerman was devastatingly good when running out a seven-length winner of this contest 12 months ago having made all the running under William Buick in the Godolphin silks.

He was only denied by the outstanding Kyprios in 2024 and his record at Ascot allied to his proven ability returning from a break make him a key player again, though the great Yeats is the only eight-year-old winner in more than a century.

Sweet William paid a price for laying up with him and could finish only fourth 12 months ago. He's a regular around here but has typically come up a little short at Group 1 level in his career.

Since 2012, nine four-year-olds have won this race (Stradivarius took his first aged four and added two more afterwards) ensuring St Leger winner Scandinavia is high on the list. This is a step up again from what he's done in Ireland this year and, at around 13/8, he is opposable despite his trainer's wonderful record in the race.

Caballo De Mar @ 10/1

George Scott's CABALLO DE MAR has progressed stealthily from the handicapper that won five on the spin in the autumn of 2024 into spring 2025. Four of those wins were on Southwell's all-weather at up to 2m before he finished second to East India Dock in the Chester Cup (2m2½f).

He was second here last summer in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m6f) and has shown his well-being again recently. Sweet William edged him out in the Sagaro Stakes over 2m here at the start of May but he has since won a second Group 1 in France with another gutsy display at that sort of trip.

He won the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in the autumn over this trip and Oisin Murphy's partner is fancied to run a big race at a generous each-way price. Al Riffa was flying home in France behind him, showing a return to form, and is a contender on that evidence for the in-form Joseph O'Brien team.

Rahiebb @ 4/1

Just a neck split RAHIEBB and Scandinavia in the St Leger at Doncaster last season, with the runner-up doing well having conceded first run to the Ballydoyle colt.

Roger Varian's Frankel colt was a good winner of the Boodles Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire last month over 1m6f on his reappearance, getting stronger with every stride down the home straight.

That was his first success at Group-race level and his close third in the Queen's Vase (1m6f) at this meeting last summer is a good pointer for this contest. He looks sure to come forward for that York comeback and a personal best is forecast now tackling this increased trip for the first time.