British Champions Day: Long Distance Cup at Ascot

Events / Timeform / 14 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Fame And Glory was the impressive winner of the Ascot Gold Cup

"Second in a Derby, a five times Group 1 winner and triumphant in this season’s Ascot Gold Cup, Fame And Glory should be a certainty for the Long Distance Cup..."

The Long Distance Cup should prove a fascinating contest and its outcome looks to hinge on a rematch between Fame And Glory and Opinion Poll, but there are plenty others capable of giving those two something to think about...

Second in a Derby, a five-times Group 1 winner and triumphant in this season's Ascot Gold Cup, Fame and Glory should be a certainty for the Long Distance Cup.

Fame and Glory is no certainty on Saturday, however. Far from it in fact, as he just hasn't looked himself since Ascot, defeated by Fictional Account in an Irish St Leger trial and then running inexcusably badly in the Irish Leger itself, looking uncomfortable for much of the way.

Whilst Fame and Glory is no doubt a classy stayer, and on his day far superior to those he faces on Saturday, inconsistencies have crept into his game and it is difficult to predict what kind of race he will run, but if he is at his best then the [3.55] currently available could be very good value.

Opinion Poll on the other hand has been the model of consistency throughout the season and is available to back for this contest at [3.20]. Three solid efforts out in Dubai were followed by a fourth-placed finish behind the likes of Brigantin and Marinous in the Group 2 Prix Vigontesse Vigier at Longchamp.

A second behind Fame and Glory at Royal Ascot soon followed, in a race where patient tactics may have been slightly overdone, as Opinion Poll stayed on powerfully towards the end of the two and a half mile contest to claim second place.

In the absence of Fame And Glory, Opinion Poll proceeded to take all before him on his next two outings, landing the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup at York, the latter performance securing a career-best Timeform rating.

He finished second once again on his next start, out-stayed by Saddler's Rock, a three-year-old in receipt of 17 lb, in the Doncaster Cup last month, having cruised into contention on the bridle and looked the easy winner.

If either of Fame And Glory or Opinion Poll are below their very best on Saturday then there is every chance that John Dunlop's Times Up, who currently trades at [4.50] will be able to step up and deliver the pattern victory that he has promised for a while.

Times Up has shown a solid level of form throughout the season and looked at his very best last time when stepped up to two miles for the first time in the Jockey Club Rose Bowl at Newmarket. He showed plenty of speed on that occasion, with none of his rivals managing to get him off the bridle, and the step up in class could bring about the improvement needed for Times Up to go close.

Others of interest in this affair are likely to include Motrice and Colour Vision, both of whom are available to back at around [15.0]. Motrice has looked a smart stayer in recent months, but was well beaten by both Opinion Poll and Saddler's Rock when the trio met in the Doncaster Cup.

Colour Vision has made progress in the handicap division this season and was seen at his best when third in last week's Cesarewitch Handicap. The quick turnaround may prove his undoing on Saturday, however, and that's if the step up in class doesn't.

Click here to see the latest odds for the Long Distance Cup at Ascot

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