Estimate heads a star field of 12 runners in Long Distance Cup

Ahzeemah (right) wins the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York from Simenon – will he pose the biggest threat to Estimate? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Estimate is red-hot favourite for The Queen in the £200,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday, not surprising as she is unbeaten in three starts at the Royal racecourse and won the Gold Cup on her latest outing.

That was back in June, however, and the filly has had a few issues since then.

She’s reported bang in form now, but she has plenty of tough opponents to overcome in race one on the spectacular QIPCO British Champions Day card.

Two QIPCO British Champions Long Distance stalwarts, Saddler’s Rock and Times Up, grace the field but the soft ground is unlikely to suit Saddler’s Rock and well though Times Up is reported to be working on the gallops following his Speedy Services Doncaster Cup victory last month, he has never run well at Ascot. A flat track seems to be key to him.

Harris Tweed has a definite chance and will relish the ground, while the improving Eye Of The Storm, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is definitely one to keep on the right side.

Could he be Aidan’s Long Distance star for next year?

Aiken, runner-up in the race last year, must also have a chance though he has not lived up to that form in two runs this season and John Gosden’s stable jockey, William Buick, prefers Caucus.

Richard Hughes, who has a 10 point lead at the top of the Jockey of the Series table, takes the ride on Aiken.

Caucus may not appreciate the soft ground, however, whereas Aiken will for sure. 

Last year’s Irish St Leger winner, Royal Diamond, has a definite chance for Johnny Murtagh, who trains and will ride the seven-year-old, while another Irish challenger, Pale Mimosa, cannot be ruled out either.

He is trained by Dermot Weld, responsible for last year’s winner of this race, Rite Of Passage.

High Jinx was disappointing at Longchamp last time and Biographer has something to find on form, so Ahzeemah, game winner of the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York in August, may pose the biggest threeat to Estimate.

He beat Simenon by a head at York while Estimate beat the same horse by a neck at Royal Ascot – there may not be much in it on Saturday! 

Whilst Ahzeemah may not want it too soft, his sire, Dubawi, has fathered plenty of soft ground horses and he has the form and the will to win.

He worked well at the weekend and must have a sound chance of at least making the frame in a highly competitive race which will launch the day in style.

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