Vazirabad and Soumillon are the Value in the Gold Cup
4.20 Ascot, Gold Cup
The top 3 in the market, Order Of St George, Stradivarius and Vazirabad look clear of the rest of the field on form and the winner should be coming from one of those. Order Of St George won this in 2016 and was only beaten a short-head by big Orange last year and looks a worthy favourite. He conceded 8lb to Stradivarius in the Champions day Long Distance Cup when beating him by a length in to third and he should confirm that form having to concede just a pound today.
Vazirabad seems to have been around for years, but he is just a 6-year-old like Order Of St George and he makes his first visit to UK soil today. He is a three time winner of the Dubai Gold Cup and was probably more impressive this year than in his previous victories. He is incredibly consistent having finished first or second in his last 12 races, for which he has started short-priced favourites in all. At currently a best priced 11/2 he will be the biggest price he has ever been since he made his racecourse debut in May 2015 and he rates a great bet against the front two which are 2/1 each.
The only slight doubt would be his ability to handle ground described as good to firm, but he has won on good ground several times, including at Meydan. Quicker ground hasn’t seen him run worse in the past and those doubts are possibly founded on his breeding being by Monsun who loved the mud; at the price he is I have to chance him as he looks to be at the top of his form coming in to this.
Recommended bets
Vazirabad, 11/2
