Glory A Possible For York’s Lonsdale Cup

Aidan O’Brien has been giving details of possible options for his recent Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory, the morning after the Ballydoyle handler once again went into the record backs by sending out the first three home in the Irish Derby for the fourth time in nine years, writes Elliot Slater.

The five-year-old son of Montjeu made the transition from high-class middle distance performer to the top of the staying tree in scintillating fashion at Royal Ascot earlier this month, and hopes are high that he can go some way to emulating his now retired stable companion Yeats, who followed a similar path and went on to win a stunning four successive Ascot Gold Cup’s as well as a host of other top staying prizes. Anyone looking to place a horseracing bet will wonder if Montjeu has what it takes.

Although he remains amongst the entries for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 23, it appears that O’Brien and his team are resisting the temptation to drop back in trip and instead have the option of returning to the Curragh (where Fame And Glory has won four of his five starts), or heading to York’s Ebor fixture in August to contest the Lonsdale Stakes. Those following the horse betting will be keeping a close eye on his plans.

The York race would fit nicely into a schedule that could subsequently include the Group 1 Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh on September 10, and then lead on to the big French staying race the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in October. Stepping up six furlongs following a win at Leopardstown in May, Fame And Glory saw out the two-and-a-half-mile trip of the Ascot Gold Cup in tremendous fashion under Jamie Spencer, crossing the line three-lengths clear of the useful Opinion Poll to leave connections dreaming that he really could become the ‘Yeats’ of the current decade.