There’s a hugely competitive renewal of the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday as some of the top stayers line up on day three of the Ebor Festival. With star stayer Kyprios not lining up then the door is open for someone else to sparkle and our man Steve Chambers previews the event and picks his 1-2-3 for the race here.
POINT LONSDALE
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale has always struggled at the highest level, but this level is certainly within his capabilities and if he can repeat his performance that saw him win the Ormonde Stakes at Chester then he has to be respected. He was beaten in a Group 1 in France last time out, so will need to improve on that effort, but with Ryan Moore in red-hot form this week then he has to be watched, as he’s sure to try and track the pace and sprint clear in the closing stages.
VAUBAN
(William Buick/Willie Mullins)
A top notch dual-purpose performer, Vauban is a former Triumph Hurdle hero that has also shone on the Flat. A handicap winner at Royal Ascot, the Willie Mullins-trained raider has moved into Group company, but has struggled to get his head in front and was last seen finishing third in the Curragh Cup.
Fourth in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot his best performance this season was a decent second in the Goodwood Cup, so a repeat of that run would see him go very close, but he has struggled to get his head in front of late, so needs to bounce back.
GREGORY
(James Doyle/John & Thady Gosden)
Gregory started his career in fine fashion with three wins on the bounce, which included a dominant victory in the Queen’s Vase Stakes at Royal Ascot. John & Thady Gosden’s son of Golden Horn has struggled to kick on since that victory, but he put up his best run for while last time out when finishing a decent third in the Goodwood Cup.
Having disappointed in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the four-year-old was no match for Kyprios, but ran a fine race to finish fourth and this contest could play to his strengths. He led last time out, which he seemed to enjoy, so it would be no surprise to see James Doyle hit the front early and try and hold on.
THE FIELD
Runner-up in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time out, Night Sparkle will take on the boys in this event and she is in the form of her life for Andrew Balding and could be the surprise package in the line-up. Hughie Morrison’s Quickthorn has some big race wins on his CV, but he has struggled to show his best form this season, while Alsakib will be taking a huge jump in class having won a Group 3 at York last time out. Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars is another stepping up in class here, but lines up on the back of three wins on the bounce, so has to have each-way claims, while Tashkhan and Al Nayyir complete the line-up.
VERDICT
A competitive field, albeit without a staying star, means the 2024 Lonsdale Cup is wide open, but it’s John & Thady Gosden’s GREGORY that can get back to winning ways as he ran a decent race in the Goodwood Cup and can build on that effort. Both Point Lonsdale and Vauban have struggled at times, so they may have to settle for minor honours and the biggest dangers could be the progressive pair of Night Sparkle and Align The Stars.
2024 Lonsdale Cup Predicted 1-2-3
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