ASCOT 16:20 6f4k3a

Non Runners: KALANN (IRE), BIOGRAPHER. Race Distance Adjustment: +12 yds

Time: 4m 22.61s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.3s (105.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 100.5%

There's no pre-eminent stayer around this year, Forgotten Rules the pretender to the crown but coming up short on the big day here, the most prized staying race therefore very much up for grabs after Brown Panther [injured] and Clever Cookie [ground] hadn't made it, a pair who'd have been right in the thick of it given the standard, a little lower than it usually takes to win; the ordinary renewal was borne out by the bunched finish for a Gold Cup, plenty having their chance, but that was also a consequence of the way the race was run, less than true, the pace steadying once the field had settled into position and not winding up until around 5f out, meaning space was at a once the rush for home began, and the fact Trip To Paris had a much smoother age than Kingfisher was probably the difference between first and second on the day.

TRIP TO PARIS (IRE) is unrecognisable from the horse beaten in an AW handicap off 88 on his reappearance, but that was 11f, and the longer the trip the better he is, his only 2 attempts beyond 2m bagging him a Chester Cup and now a Gold Cup, hitting new heights with this, the truth of his win that he's near the top of the league as it stands, if mid-table in other years; though it's his stamina that has propelled him, he had a bit of speed over others that got him into a winning position, fortune favouring the brave as the rider kept to the inside and got a clear run just as the second was tangled up, leading just inside the last 1f, strong to the end; he's only narrowly ahead of the pack if at all, factoring in Kingfisher's hidden extra, but however the rest of his campaign goes he's had a remarkable 2015 with the CV to prove it.

KINGFISHER (IRE) is from a stable like no other, hence how he's gone from pacemaker last year to almost winning the Gold Cup, reinvented as a stayer, would have pushed Trip To Paris close and very possibly beaten him on a level playing field, but while the winner was building momentum Kingfisher had all of his halted, caught on the heels of the one-paced third, trying to go one side then the other before getting in the clear, too late, with the strength of his finish to grab second fostering the 'what if' factor; all of a sudden he's the sexy horse in the division, and the style generated by whom he represents is accompanied by the substance of this performance, in ratings not far off what Leading Light did in the race last year.

FORGOTTEN RULES (IRE) was allowed to take his chance despite repeated alerts by the trainer about him on ground firmer than good, and there may well be something in Weld's belief, dangerous to assume that this was simply a case of him being 'found out' facing his acid test, given how good he had looked beating everything put in front of him prior to this; no better than the result on the day, but looking the favourite he was (with outlined good reason) for much of the way, racing in touch, looming up home turn, but made harder work than promised of getting to the front, over 1f out, a short-lived lead before succumbing to the winner, then the second close home, still a smart effort and certainly seeing out the trip but missing the power that he'd unleashed previously on good and softer ground, he could still easily prove the best of these, but, as warned, it may be conditional, needing easier going to really turn it on.

SIMENON (IRE) second and 2 fourths in the last 3 Gold Cups tell much of the story, but this was an especially big run considering age had looked to be catching up with him, restricted to just a couple of outings between renewals this time, added to which this edition didn't get to the bottom of him as it went, and where he came from, a good bit further back than the 3 that beat him, squeezed and finding himself in the last pair just before the pace increased, staying on too late, time against him.

BATHYRHON (GER) one of the leading stayers in , brought virtually all of that form to the table, just falling a bit short even in an average renewal, but not by much, and certainly made his presence felt, a charge putting him bang there 1f out, trying hard, straight and true as Kingfisher briefly looked to push him aside.

SCOTLAND (GER) has mostly been the underdog by virtue of the way he's campaigned, rarely in races he can realistically win, this the latest case in point, seeming to stay well enough for what it's worth, but he was saved up - out the back - for a long way, picking off those he could late on, a bit flattered if anything, having more in the way of finishing speed than some.

MIZZOU (IRE) might have found the Gold Cup coming a year too soon for him, the fact he arrived in apparent growing confidence (heavily backed on the day) rather masking the truth that he's still something of a work-in-progress with only 6 previous races under his belt, albeit taking the Sagaro in impressive style, but this was a different league again and being held up didn't work out so well this time, other moves made long before he got going, all too gradual to impact, likely to learn as much from this as any of his 4 wins on the way up.

FOREVER NOW role reversal with Vent de Force from the Henry II but neither could live with Trip To Paris out of that race, Forever Now doing the dictating this time, all on his for a good way, but couldn't shake off the field when asked and overpowered inside the last 2f, running about as well as rating entitled him to, but with advantages that stop short of suggesting he's up to this level or an out-and-out stayer.

HAVANA BEAT (IRE) out of his comfort zone for class and possibly stamina, too, one or both finding him out, well positioned but put in his place from 2f out.

WINDSHEAR easy to blame lack of stamina for his capitulation, but at no stage this season (including reappearance win) has he really convinced he's the horse he was last year, motivation perhaps not what it was, headgear already given a try.

VENT DE FORCE had beaten Trip To Paris at Sandown, though ride-assisted, and whereas that one was in his element with the 2½m trip Vent de Force fell in a hole 2f out, briefly short of room but presumably just not staying, eased off.

TAC DE BOISTRON (FR) showed once and for all why he's kept to good and (particularly) softer ground all this time, looking okay up to a point but struggling as soon as the heat was on and protected by the rider, soon switching him off, all but pulled up; he looked as good as ever with favoured conditions at Chester.