Ascot Gold Cup Betting Preview

NO ESCAPE FROM 13/2 REEFSCAPE Sir Michael Stoute's Distinction has been all the rage for the Ascot Gold Cup at the Royal Meeting on June 22 since making a successful seasonal reappearance at Newbury where he gave 9lb and head beating to Balkan Knight with fully seven length back to the third home, Avalon. Considering that the trip in that Listed contest, just under a mile and six furlongs, was plenty sharp enough for Distinction, he deserves the utmost respect for showing such fortitude to get back on top close home after it looked as though the eventual runner up was going to swamp him a furlong out. However, at a top-priced 5/2 to go one better than last year when he was beaten a neck by Westerner, he makes for a poor value betting opportunity, and I reckon that he may again find a French-trained runner too strong in the closing stages - Reefscape, who is a tempting 13/2 with William Hill. Andre Fabre's charge is a massive price for a horse of his class. Indeed, he proved that he wasn't too far behind the best over middles distances last term when third (later promoted to second) to penultimate Arc hero Bago in the Group 1 Prix Ganay, and when third behind Yeats and Alkaased in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. However, it was when stepped up markedly in distance that we started to see the best of the son of Linamix. He proved that two and a half miles is a stamina test he relishes when prevailing in the French version of this race, the Prix du Cadran, at Longchamp in October, beating Ostankino and Alcazar, who dead-heated for second spot. Although beaten by the last-named at the same venue in the French St Leger later that month, it was the drop in trip (1m 7f110yds) that proved Reefscape's nemesis rather than Alcazar, as the Khalid Abdulla-owned entire became outpaced at a crucial stage before coming home strongly, failing by a rapidly diminishing neck to land the spoils. Although most of his racing has been done on ground with a bit of give, he shaped as though faster conditions hold no fears for him when a staying-on sixth to Ouija Board on good to firm going in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December. Reefscape is now five, thus reaching his peak as far as stayers go, and given his proven class, I am really confident that he can give Andre Fabre his first win in this famous race. Last season's Horse of The Year Sergeant Cecil has proved that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the top staying events this season with two cracking efforts so far during the current campaign. Rod Millman's stable star was clear of the remainder and lost no caste in defeat when chasing home Percussionist in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire last month. He rates the main danger to the selection. Yeats is unproven over the trip and, as a horse that is constantly beset with niggling problems, he's a risky betting proposition, while the likes of Golden Quest and Tungsten Strike are tough customers who always give 100 per cent, but neither possess the class ofReefscape. Verdict - 1pt Reefscape @ 13/2 (William Hill)