Ascot Gold Cup betting

The Ascot Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious staying flat races in the world. It’s the longest surviving race at Royal Ascot and takes place on the third day of the meeting, traditionally known as ‘Ladies’ Day.

Ante-post Ascot Gold Cup odds are available throughout the season. With plenty of well-backed winning horses in recent years, Ascot Gold Cup bets make up one of the busiest betting markets of Royal Ascot week.

The Ascot Gold Cup is open to four-year-olds and upwards and is contested over 2m4f. It’s the first leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown, followed by the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup.

Ascot Gold Cup betting tips

Aidan O’Brien has a great record in the Ascot Gold Cup. He often runs four-year-olds who were good enough to compete in the Classic races the previous season. Jockey Frankie Dettori also has a fine record, winning the race for the seventh time when scoring on Stradivarius in 2019.

French-trained runners have a relatively poor record in the race, although Vazirabad came very close to bucking the trend in 2018. The Aga Khan’s stayer finished second to Stradivarius, beaten only three-quarters of a length.

Westerner was a hot Ascot Gold Cup tip when winning for France in 2005, but the race was staged at York while Ascot was being redeveloped.

Ascot is one of the fairest racecourses in the country, so there are rarely excuses for beaten horses.

Ascot Gold Cup betting odds focus on horses that have proven stamina. There are very few flat races over 2m4f and many of the runners will be heading into unknown territory. A high percentage of winners had won over 2m or further prior to running in the Gold Cup.

It’s comparatively rare for fillies and mares to run in the Ascot Gold Cup, but if one should line up, they shouldn’t be ignored.

Estimate was successful in 2013, while two others have been placed in recent times.

Irish-bred horses have a good record while the leading stallions have been Sadler’s Wells and Monsun.

Ascot Gold Cup betting trends

Ascot Gold Cup odds fluctuate through the early-season trials. Although the race sometimes attracts a large field, favourites have a good record in the Ascot Gold Cup.

When studying Ascot Gold Cup tips, it’s worth noting that it’s very rare for a big outsider to win the race. Rite Of Passage was a surprise 20/1 winner in 2010 for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. His previous race had been over 2m5f at the Cheltenham Festival!

Apart from defending champions Drum Taps (1993) and Yeats (2008 and 2009), horses aged four to six have a virtual monopoly on this race. Stayers tend to be kept in training longer, as they don’t reach their peak until five or six years of age.

There have been many multiple Gold Cup winners including Ardross (1981, 1982), Kayf Tara (1998, 2000), Royal Rebel (2001, 2002) and Stradivarius (2018, 2019).

Ascot Gold Cup ante-post betting

Although it’s a Group 1 race, it’s not unusual for top stayers to progress from handicap races. Trip To Paris was rated only 95 when he won the Chester Cup in 2015. He then finished second in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown. He was officially rated 113 after winning the Ascot Gold Cup.

The best trials for the Ascot Gold Cup are the Sagaro Stakes and the Henry II Stakes. Horses to win both the Sagaro Stakes and the Gold Cup in the same season include Double Trigger (1995), Colour Vision (2012) and Estimate (2013).

The Henry II Stakes at Sandown has also produced plenty of Ascot winners. Mr Dinos (2003), Papineau (2004) and Big Orange (2017) all completed the double in the same season.

The Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in Ireland was a successful prep race for Yeats (2007, 2008), Fame And Glory (2011) and Leading Light (2014).

The Goodwood Cup is often the next target for Ascot Gold Cup winners, although the form is not always upheld. A hard race at Ascot can leave its mark as it’s over half a mile further than the Goodwood Cup.

Ardross was only beaten a head in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in 1982, but it’s rare for a Gold Cup winner to be as effective at 1m4f.

Ascot Gold Cup history and memorable winners

The Ascot Gold Cup was first run in 1807 when it was won by Master Jackey. Such was the prestige associated with the race that it was once the target of Epsom Derby winners.

Ocean Swell (1945) won both races, while Blakeney, runner-up in 1970, was the last Derby winner to run here.

Yeats set a record of four successive Ascot Gold Cup victories between 2006 and 2009. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien and was very popular in Royal Ascot bets, starting favourite for his last three victories.

A statue of Yeats is on permanent display in the parade ring at Ascot racecourse to honour his great achievement.

Lester Piggott’s mount was always a popular Ascot Gold Cup tip and he’s the most successful jockey in the history of the race with 11 victories. Three of those wins came aboard Sagaro (1975 – 1977) and the early-season trial is named after the top French stayer.

Estimate raised the roof at Royal Ascot in 2013 when winning the race for Her Majesty The Queen. Ascot Gold Cup bets poured on Estimate who started the 7/2 clear favourite. Her Majesty became the first reigning monarch to win the Ascot Gold Cup.

The most controversial race in Ascot Gold Cup history was in 1988 when Royal Gait won by five lengths but was sensationally disqualified. The winner was adjudged to have caused interference early in the home straight and the race awarded to runner-up Sadeem.

Ascot Gold Cup 2021

Stradivarius dominated the staying division in both 2018 and 2019, winning 10 of 11 races including consecutive Ascot Gold Cup’s. John Gosden trained the son of Sea The Stars to win the £1 million bonus consecutively for owner Bjorn Nielsen in.

He’s at his best on fast ground but showed his versatility by winning on a softer surface at Ascot too. His winning streak was ended when he was beaten by a nose in the British Champions Long Distance Cup at the end of last season. The race was moved to the inner track after heavy rainfall. Despite this set back, Gosden’s star-stayer will likely go off heavily backed at a short price.

The horse that ended Stradivarius’ dominant run was Aidan O’Brien-trained Kew Gardens. The five-year-old looks to be his O’Brien’s best chance. A former St Leger winner, he will be well backed to cause Stradivarius problems.

Godolphin haven’t managed a winner in this race since Frankie Dettori won aboard Colour Vision in 2012. Charlie Appleby’s Cross Counter will look to cause an upset. He was only a one and three quarter lengths behind Stradivarius when fourth in the 2019 renewal and has beaten the likes of Dee Ex Bee and Call The Wind in the past.

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