Simple Verse declared for Ascot Gold Cup

Dual Gr. 1 winner Simple Verse has been declared for the feature race at Royal Ascot, the Gr. 1 Gold Cup on Thursday.

Qatar Racing's highest-rated female in training, Simple Verse will step up to two and a half miles for the first time in the Gold Cup. She made a fine return when second in the Gr. 2 Yorkshire Cup at York, where she was just touched off by Dartmouth who is favourite to repeeat his success in last year's Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday.

The way Simple Verse stayed on when winning last year's Gr. 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster in particular gives hope that she'll stay this marathon trip at Royal Ascot, and her form claims are as good as anything in the race behind last year's winner Order of St George.

As for the ground, she'd probably have preferred some juice, but she has won on good to firm in a Gr. 3 as a 3-year-old, and also ran a cracker on a similar surface when third in the Gr. 2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles at this track on her final start last year.

Qatar Racing also have other 10 horses declared at Royal Ascot on Wednesday and Thursday.

True Valour will need to improve on his previous form to go close in the Gr. 3 Jersey Stakes which opens Day 2, but he's a tough horse so could have more to offer. Qatar Racing's best chance of a winner on Wednesday comes in the following Gr. 2 Queen Mary Stakes courtesy of either Out of The Flames or Treasuring. Maiden Mother of Dragons also runs in that race.

Treasuring's progressive stablemate Gold Spinner is declared for the Gr. 3 Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday, when Rich Legacy is due to run in the Gr. 2 Ribblesdale Stakes and four horses including likely favourite Son of The Stars - have been declared for the Britannia Handicap, albeit Bless Him currently only second reserve.