2016 British Champions Day: Order Of St George to slay Long Distance rivals
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Long Distance Cup tips: Take Order Of St George bets
Order Of St George looks a cut-above his rivals, so is a worthy red-hot favourite to land the Group 2 Long Distance Cup which opens British Champions Day at Ascot (13:25).
Trained in Ireland by the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien, this four-year-old is on a 50 per cent strike rate from 14 starts.
Order Of St George confirmed himself as the best stayer in Europe when an easy three-length winner of this year’s Ascot Gold Cup.
Although surprisingly turned over at long odds-on by Wicklow Brave when runner-up in the Irish St Leger on his penultimate outing, Order Of St George was given a poor ride and too much to do by jockey Ryan Moore.
Terrific effort in Arc de Triomphe
Since going on to finish a cracking third to stablemate Found in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over 1m 4f at Chantilly on October 1st, Order Of St George stuck to the task well and was only beaten 3 1/4 lengths.
Stepping back up in trip to 2m is sure to suit, while an official rating of 124 gives Order Of St George 6lb and upwards in hand on his rivals.
The son of Galileo is also versatile as regards ground. Ascot’s Long Distance Cup looks Order Of St George’s for the taking, providing the race doesn’t come too quickly after his exploits in France.
Simple Verse a big player
Simple Verse bounced back to form last time out when landing the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, and looks the one most likely to take advantage if Order Of St George fails to live up to expectations.
The 2015 St Leger heroine showed a tremendous attitude to come from off the pace and get up close home to beat Pretty Perfect by a neck.
Simple Verse was value for more than the winning margin, as jockey Oisin Murphy allowed the enterprisingly ridden runner-up far too much rope.
In the circumstances it was a cracking effort, and the pair pulled five lengths clear of the field to give the form a solid look.
This demands more, yet the Ralph Beckett trained four-year-old is unexposed as a stayer, landed the Fillies & Mares on this card 12 months ago and as a Classic winner commands the utmost respect.
Litigant a lively outsider
Litigant has plenty to find on official ratings, but is likely to get the cut in the ground that he relishes and looks an each-way player.
The Joseph Tuite trained gelding has legs of glass and is very lightly-raced for an eight-year-old.
However, Litigant has a tremendous strike rate, winning six of his eight starts. He was very impressive in the last of those when landing the 2015 running of the November Handicap at Doncaster by 4 1/2 lengths off top weight of 9st 10lb.
That win suggests he is well worth a crack at this level and, although Litigant has not been seen since with a 343-day absence to overcome, he has an excellent record fresh.
Related
You’ll find recommended race-by-race British Champions Day bets on the Ascot page of Coral news prior to the flat season’s big finale.
Coral’s top tip: Order Of St George bets are impossible to oppose here because he’s a class act. Simple Verse looks the most likely one for the forecast, while Litigant is capable of going well a a big price.
