Three Gold Cup winners in top class Long Distance line-up

Fame And Glory is the first of four horses looking for a repeat victory on QIPCO British Champions Day. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

A star-studded field of nine will go to post for the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, the opening race over two miles on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot tomorrow.

The line-up includes the last three winners of Europe’s biggest long distance race, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot – Colour Vision (2012), Fame And Glory (2011) and Rite Of Passage (2010).

It also includes the one-two-three from this race last year, Fame And Glory, Opinion Poll and Colour Vision.

Opinion Poll was also runner-up in the last two Gold Cups and won two Series races last year, the Artemis Goodwood Cup and Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, while another challenger, Saddler’s Rock, was third in the year’s Gold Cup and won the 2011 Stobart Doncaster Cup and the 2012 Artemis Goodwood Cup.

Aiken has high class form over shorter distances and may improve on his first attempt at two miles, while Ile De Re has won two big handicaps on his last two starts. Both are sure to appreciate the soft ground after a very wet week at Ascot.

Askar Tau and Electrolyser complete the line-up and have an outside chance to make the frame in what is unquestionably one of the highest class long distance races in recent memory.

You couldn’t have a better appetiser to start a momentous afternoon on Britain’s richest raceday!

For the full race details and line-up, CLICK HERE.