Estimate and Times Up amongst strong Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup entry

Times Up wins the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup last year. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Neither has run since the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot when they were at opposite ends of the spectrum, with Estimate winning in determined style for Her Majesty The Queen and Times Up finishing a very remote 13th of the 14 runners.

Last year, however, Times Up ran out an impressive winner of the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup and now under the care of Ed Dunlop after Ed’s father, John, retired at the end of last season, he will be looking to get the seven year-old back on track.

Estimate, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, will be a formidable opponent, however, as will the Gold Cup runner-up, Simenon, who finished just a neck behind Estimate for trainer Willie Mullins.

Will this drop back to two miles from the two and a half miles of the Gold Cup suit the thorough stayer Simenon, however?

Others to take the eye amongst the 18-strong entry include Ahzeemah, runner-up in the Artemis Goodwood Cup, the improving Aidan O’Brien-trained Ernest Hemingway, winner of his last two starts, the highly regarded French raider Gloomy Sunday and last year’s runner-up in this race, High Jinx.

The latter missed the Gold Cup due to the fast ground and one can be sure that trainer James Fanshawe will have him spot on for this contest.

The final declarations for the race will be known on Wednesday morning.