Bellamy to tackle Gold Cup

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has declared Black Sam Bellamy for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

O’Brien’s four-year-old full-brother to Derby winner Galileo will be tackling two and a half miles for the first time in the Ladies’ Day feature.

“The plan is to run Black Sam Bellamy in the Gold Cup if the ground is safe,” O’Brien told the Racing Post.

The colt is also in the Hardwicke Stakes over 12 furlongs at the Royal meeting on Saturday.

There were no withdrawals from the race at the final declaration stage with 13 stayers standing their ground.

Godolphin are represented by Yorkshire Cup winner Mamool, who has been prominent in the betting for the stayers’ crown since his victory on the Knavesmire, Fight Your Corner and Pugin as they bid to win the contest for a fourth time following the victories of Classic Cliché (1996) and Kayf Tara (1998 and 2000).

Persian Punch will be running in the Gold Cup for a seventh time, having come closest to success when beaten a head by Royal Rebel two years ago.

Alcazar, who was demoted after beating Savannah Bay in the Sagaro Stakes only to be reinstated on appeal, renews rivalry with Brian Meehan’s charge on Thursday.

Kieren Fallon has been booked to ride leading fancy Mr Dinos, who made an impressive return to action at Sandown last month.

Pole Star and Kasthari, second and third respectively behind Mr Dinos that day, take on Paul Cole’s French St Leger winner again.

Chantilly-based Englishman Richard Gibson runs Cut Quartz, a winner at Longchamp last month.

The Gold Cup has not been won by a French-trained horse since Sagaro completed his Gold Cup hat-trick in 1977.

The line-up is completed by the Alan Jarvis-trained Jardines Lookout and Marcus Tregoning’s Tholjanah.