Weather set to scupper Trueshan’s Gold Cup bid

WELL-SUPPORTED Gold Cup contender Trueshan is “very unlikely” to line-up in Thursday’s feature race at Royal Ascot, according to trainer Alan King.

The six-year-old, who was 5-2 favourite with Coral bookmakers for the two-and-a-halfmile Group One contest, had drifted to 9-2 yesterday, with the forecast set fair for the next few days.

The ground at Ascot was described as good to firm, good in places and, with no sign of rain before the conclusion of the fiveday meeting, coupled with drying winds and soaring temperatures, King feels Trueshan will not get his preferred soft ground.

“I am hugely concerned about the ground and I can’t see any rain coming either, looking at all the forecasts,” said King. “We might hang on in there, but if the forecast is right, I can’t see us running.”

Trueshan landed the Group One Prix du Cadran at Paris-Longchamp in October and followed up with success in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot.

He advertised his Gold Cup credentials upon his return to action at Nottingham in April, but needs ease underfoot to show his best.

Kind added: “It is frustrating, but last year the ground came right for us at Goodwood, in France and at Ascot later in the year. Ascot should be run on fast ground, it is high summer at the end of the day. But if I call it wrong once, I could finish him. We have to try to get it right. It will be a last-minute call, but I would say he is very unlikely to run.”

The field could be further reduced as connections of Scope have also intimated he will be held back.

The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old also needs cut in the ground and Sarah Richmond-Watson, who bred and owns the colt with husband Julian, said: “It is all raindependent. There is a doubt he will run, I’m afraid. We are very disappointed.”