Found and Fascinating Rock ready for round three

Found is likely to start favourite for what promises to be a superb renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Picture courtesy of Racingfotos.com

Fascinating Rock and Found, two heavyweights in the middle-distance category of the QIPCO British Champions Series, will meet for the third time since October in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

The former came out on top by half a length when they clashed in the QIPCO Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot in October, but Found turned the tables in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh this month.

Fascinating Rock could finish only third behind the Breeders’ Cup Turf heroine on that occasion, but trainer Dermot Weld believes his horse will strip much fitter at the weekend. “That run will do him the world of good,” he predicted.

British challengers have won the mile and a quarter feature for the past three years, with the Roger Charlton-trained Al Kazeem responsible for two of those triumphs.

Al Kazeem has since been retired and Charlton had hoped Time Test, an impressive winner at Royal Ascot last year, would be able to follow his example. However, the trainer has pulled Time Test out because of the soft ground.

The Grey Gatsby, placed in four QIPCO British Champions Series races during his distinguished career without managing to quite get his head in front, will fly the flag for Britain.

He will be making his seasonal reappearance in what will be his final year of racing before being retired to stud.

Kevin Ryan, his trainer, reports the five-year-old to be bigger and stronger this term but will be hoping the going dries up a bit. After running at the Curragh, he will have a choice of options at Royal Ascot.