by Renee Israel
The Ascot Gold Cup, which is considered the flagship race of
the Royal Ascot Week by many punters, is always run on the third day of the five
day festival, which this year is tomorrow, Thursday, June 21.
The Gold Cup is a flat horse race for thoroughbreds aged four years or older
run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs. This long distance race is Britain's most
prestigious event for stayers. In fact it is the first leg of the Stayers'
Triple Crown, followed by the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup.
The last horse to win this Triple Crown was Double Trigger in 1995. Another
unusual feature of the Gold Cup is that it offers a perpetual trophy, which
means that the prize can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Repeat of Last Year's Ascot Race
The 2012 Ascot Gold Cup could very well be a repeat of last year's race. In
the 2011 Gold Cup Fame And Glory beat Opinion Poll by three lengths. Fame And
Glory is the favourite again this year and the odds of his winning are
shortening every day. Punters who want to back the favourite should get their
bets in as soon as possible.
Fame And Glory is trained by Aidan O'Brien. O'Brien earned a place in racing
history when his trained Yeats won four consecutive Gold Cup races from 2006 to
2009, starting as a five year old. Fame And Glory's win last year gave O'Brien
his fifth Gold Cup and put him in the category of leading trainer for this race,
an honour he currently shares with six other trainers. A win this year will make
him the leading trainer all on his own, which is something special.
The odds on Opinion Poll have also shortened after it was announced that the
legendary Frankie Dettori would ride him. Dettori's 1996 feat of winning all
seven races on a single Ascot day will perhaps never be repeated. Dettori has
four Ascot Gold Cup wins, the last being in 2004.
Ascot Gold Cup Betting Odds
The odds for the 2012 Ascot Gold Cup are up at all online sportsbooks,and
while there is some variation in the odds from site to site, punters are
encouraged to check extensively before placing wagers. The top five favourites
at Ladbrokes online are as follows.
Fame And Glory 1/1
Opinion Poll 4/1
Colour Vision 6/1
Saddler's Rock 6/1
Memphis Tennessee10/1
The odds at Bet365 online are as follows.
Fame And Glory 1/1
Saddlers Rock 9/2
Opinion Poll 5/1
Colour Vision 5/1
Memphis Tennessee12/1
