Coronation Cup Preview: Keep in-form Cirrus on side at Epsom

The links between Saturday's Coronation Cup and last year's Champion Stakes are even closer than they might first appear. Not only does it contain a key piece of form for Saturday's contest - of which more later - but the same niggling doubts as to whether this year's Coronation Cup will live up to the 2013 renewal hung over the run-up to Ascot last October. No one could fill the void left by Frankel's thrilling swansong in 2012, but both from a ratings and publicity perspective the 2013 Champion Stakes turned out to be a fitting climax to the British season. 

Last year's Coronation Cup saw the hugely popular St. Nicholas Abbey win his third consecutive renewal of the race on what would sadly prove to be his final start, achieving a career-best on Timeform ratings into the bargain. This year's Coronation Cup looked altogether less enticing prospect, the race seemingly at the mercy of last year's Derby winner Ruler of The World, until Corine Barande-Barbe indicated that Epsom was likely to figure in Cirrus des Aigles's 2014 campaign. What we are faced with now is a very different prospect: a fascinating match-up between Ruler of The World, now forced to put a disappointment in the Dubai World Cup firmly behind him, and Cirrus Des Aigles, a consistent veteran in peak form having his first experience of Epsom's undulations.

It is with Ruler of The World that we'll start. Taken on his close third in the aforementioned Champion Stakes, in which earned him a career-best figure of 128, he'd be very competitive. That confirmed his credentials as a top-class performer, more so than his win in an ordinary Derby. You could also argue that he deserves extra credit for the progress he made in the closing stages, having been caught in a much poorer position than the pair that beat him.

However, there are reasons to suggest others might have the edge. First and foremost Ruler of The World was receiving 5 lb from Cirrus des Aigles at Ascot, a luxury he doesn't receive this year as a four-year-old. Secondly, even though the Champion Stakes was over 10 furlongs the ground more than compensated for the step-back in trip and conditions actually placed the emphasis on stamina.  A sharp test at one and a half miles, far from out of the question on taking the recent history of this race, could actually disadvantage Ruler of The World, who looks more of a galloper. 
Aidan O'Briens recent record of seven wins in the last nine renewals of the Coronation Cup cannot be ignored, but the bald facts are that Ruler of The World faces a match-fit rival who seems to have more in the way of pace and, all told, he doesn't look an appealing bet at odds of around 4.03/1.

The one to side with is the irrepressible Cirrus des Aigles, who after an unspectacular 2013 has already shown all of his old battling qualities and as near to his best form as makes no difference. He followed up a promising second in the 2014 Dubai Sheema Classic by inflicting a first defeat on Treve in the Prix Ganay and he beat his rivals in a canter in the Prix d'Ispahan last time out.

Although he hasn't encountered the unique demands of Epsom before Cirrus des Aigles is clearly better than ever of late and you feel that after 57 career starts, many of them at the highest level and all around the world, there won't be much that catches him off-guard. He's proven over trips between nine and 12 furlongs, is versatile in terms of tactics and possesses a good deal more speed than his rivals. Ground would be a concern for some, though it is worth stressing that for all Cirrus des Aigles thrives on softer going, he is by no means dependant on it. On all known form Cirrus des Aigles should be beating Ruler of The World, around 2.56/4 a fair price for him to do so before he faces a rematch with Treve at Royal Ascot.

In truth those outside the top two in the market all have significant questions to answer. Flintshire is nominally next-best, though he relies chiefly on reputation having failed to come up to scratch in a couple of starts since he won the Grand Prix de Paris. He also has a nine-month absence to overcome, although Andre Fabre doesn't send them over the channel for the sake of it so you suspect Flintshire will at least be fit. 

Ambivalent ran well at York last time out but would require a significant step up on the form she's shown in her career thus far to figure here and despite the removal of the dreaded 'Timeform squiggle' after her latest victory lingering doubts still remain about her temperament. 

The one who might out run her odds is 2013 Oaks winner Talent, who clearly handles the course. Despite her run in the St Leger suggesting this trip might be a bit on the sharp side for her nowadays she won a listed event over 10 furlongs at Newmarket and if she gets a strong pace to run at she may surprise a few, as she did at the meeting last year. 

The hope is that as happened on Champions Day in October, Saturday's Coronation Cup surpasses expectations and proves every bit as thrilling as the previous year's renewal. If that is the case it will be for entirely different reasons, as although there isn't the same sense of history surrounding this year's race we have an enthralling match-up which is sure to give clues to Royal Ascot and beyond. 

Recommendation: Back Cirrus des Aigles in the Coronation Cup