Keeping Order

Back on track with Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on Wednesday after the surprising eclipse of Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 24 hours earlier, Aidan O'Brien looks to Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to maintain the balance in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. At one point seemingly in danger but ultimately impressive when successful by three lengths 12 months ago, the 5-year-old who is owned by the Coolmore partnership and Lloyd Williams, has since emulated Ardross (Ire) in getting into the frame in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly in October. That third placing puts him in elite territory among the winners of this prize, which has fallen seven times in the last 11 years to Ballydoyle. Aidan O'Brien has no equal in turning high-class middle-distance performers into marathon merchants and the stable's former luminaries Yeats (Ire) and Fame and Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) proved equally effective over a range of trips. His latest win in the Listed Saval Beg S. at Leopardstown May 26 will have helped in his priming for this test and O'Brien is happy with his preparation.

“It's been a case of so far so good with Order of St George this season,” he said. “We were happy with his first run and his second run and we've been happy with him since. I'd say he's in a similar place to last year. We were delighted with him in the Gold Cup last year. We could not be sure he would stay the distance, but he saw it out well. We take one race at a time with every horse and don't get too far ahead of ourselves. He could go for the Goodwood Cup afterwards, but we've got to get to Ascot first and we will see after that.”

Withdrawn last year due to the rain, Bill Gredley's Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) has conditions to suit this time and his latest emphatic success in Sandown's G3 Henry II S. over two miles May 25 confirmed that he is a leading protagonist this time. As a dual G2 Goodwood Cup and G2 Princess of Wales's S. hero, he has the credentials to upset the Ballydoyle favourite and is gaining in popularity all the time.

“He won well over two miles at Sandown the other day and the last furlong was probably his best furlong and that's two miles with an uphill finish,” trainer Michael Bell said. “There's no doubt he'll get two and a quarter miles, but two and a half is uncharted waters. Looking at him as a physical specimen, you've got to think if any horse is going to get two and a half, he would. I don't think Order Of St George is a Yeats. He's not stamped his authority on the race yet. Obviously he's a high-class horse, but Big Orange is at his peak at this time of year. I can see him setting a relentless gallop and hopefully lasting home. If the ground is fast, he'll run a huge race. You've got to hope and be positive and we couldn't be happier with the horse.”

Despite his veteran status, Mohammed Jaber's Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) enjoyed a stellar season in 2016 when third in this and the Goodwood Cup and winning the G2 Doncaster Cup and G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. Runner-up on both occasions was Quest For More (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who also won the G2 Lonsdale Cup and G1 Prix du Cadran but who has questions to answer having finished last of seven on his comeback in the Henry II.

“He was disappointing at Sandown but after the race he had a bit of a mucus in his lungs, which is unusual for him, so I'm hoping that's a reasonable excuse,” trainer Roger Charlton said. “He doesn't owe anybody anything, but it's nice to have a runner in a race like that.”

Last year's G1 St Leger hero Harbour Law (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) also comes here off a below-par effort, having finished at the tail of the field in the two-mile G3 Sagaro S. here May 3. That was dominated by the mare Sweet Selection (GB) (Stimulation {Ire}), who forms a strong contingent of that sex which features Qatar Racing's 2015 Leger heroine Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}). Runner-up in the G2 Yorkshire Cup over 14 furlongs last time May 19, she is going further than she has attempted so far in her career and faces the age-old question in that regard.