Mr Dinos tipped for Ascot Gold Cup glory
Mr Dinos has been installed as 2-1 favourite to repeat last year’s victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.
The five-year-old faces rivals from Japan, France and Ireland among a field of 14 declared for the Group One marathon over two and a half miles following today’s 48-hour final declaration stage.
Mr Dinos gave trainer Paul Cole and jockey Kieren Fallon their first taste of glory in the five-day festival’s showcase event with an emphatic six-length success over Persian Punch 12 months ago.
The son of Desert King showed he was coming to form at the right time when second to Papineau in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown on his latest start.
Mr Dinos was beaten a length and a half by Godolphin’s runner, who was receiving 7lb, but the pair renew rivalry on level terms on Thursday.
And Fallon is bullish about his mount’s chances of completing back-to-back victories.
“He’s back to his best trip. His previous two starts were over a distance that was much too short for him,” Fallon told Racing UK.
“It felt to me as if he is just starting to peak now, at the right time. I’d be very confident going to Ascot with this horse.”
Royal Rebel, successful in 2001 and 2002, tries for a third victory. His trainer Mark Johnston also saddles Darasim.
Godolphin are triple-handed with Henry II Stakes third New South Wales and Highest backing up Papineau’s challenge for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Ingrandire will be Japan’s first runner in the Gold Cup after the Yoshinami Shimizu-trained five-year-old was supplemented on Saturday.
The last Irish-trained winner was John Oxx’s Enzeli in 1999 and there are three runners from Ireland in this year’s renewal.
Vinnie Roe, runner-up to Royal Rebel two years ago, will try to go one better for Dermot Weld, while Aidan O’Brien saddles last year’s Seabiscuit St Leger hero Brian Boru.
Luke Comer has declared Chimes At Midnight, who goes for the Ascot Stakes over the same two and a half miles today.
The field is completed by Hughie Morrison’s nine-year-old Alcazar and Michael Bell’s Dusky Warbler.
Ascot Gold Cup, Paddy Power bet: 2-1 Mr Dinos, 4-1 Vinnie Roe, 9-2 Papineau, 13-2 Westerner, 12-1 Brian Boru, Royal Rebel, 14-1 Ingrandire, 16-1 bar.
