Gosden asks stamina questions of Romsdal in Yorkshire Cup

Romsdal, who was placed in both the Investec Derby and Ladbrokes St Leger last season, will bring strong Classic form to the Betway Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday, which acts as the first leg of the Long Distance Category of QIPCO British Champions Series.

Off the back of his third in the John Porter Stakes last month, his trainer John Gosden said: “Romsdal found the ground a bit too quick at Newbury last time – they broke the track record that day. At the moment it looks like the ground at York will be fine for him but we will just have to see how it turns out on the day.”

There are clearly bigger plans for Romsdal – who changed ownership from HRH Princess Haya of Jordan to her husband Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin operation in March – holding an entry in next month’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and Gosden said of the entry: “At the moment he is a mile and a half to a mile and three-quarter horse. He does hold an entry in the Gold Cup but that may turn out to be beyond his range.”

Perhaps Friday’s run at York will provide connections with some clues as to whether he will stay the two and half miles of the Gold Cup course.

Also declared to run in the Betway Yorkshire Cup on Friday is Michael Owen’s Brown Panther, and connections will be hoping he can build on his career-best win in the Dubai Gold Cup last month. Owen commented on his stable star’s chances in the race: "He is in great form since and I am very much looking forward to the Yorkshire Cup. He has never run at York before and, although it should suit him, he has to give weight to some strong opponents."

Last year’s winning trainer-jockey combination of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore – who won with Gospel Choir – team up once again with Snow Sky in the race, and will be hoping they can reverse the form with Romsdal who beat him by two lengths in last year’s Ladbrokes St. Leger.