Royal Ascot 2015: Gold Cup preview (16.20)

Mizzou has a progressive profile and looks decent value to land the feature race on day three of Royal Ascot, the Group 1 Gold Cup run over 2m 4f.

The Luca Cumani-trained colt showed improved form in each run when winning three times from five starts last season, and looked a potential star stayer in the making when winning reappearance in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over 2m at this venue.

After being hampered at the start and held-up in touch at the rear of the field by jockey William Buick, Mizzou made smooth headway out wide two from home to take up the running at the furlong marker and beat Vent De Force going away by two lengths.

The runner-up has since gone on to land a Group 3 contest at Sandown to give the form a solid look, and there was lots to like about the way Mizzou travelled strongly into the contest before asserting to score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

Judged on the way the son of Galileo finished off the race the extra four furlongs in this should hold no fears, and Mizzou looks the type who has plenty more improvement left in the locker.

Mizzou also has underfoot conditions to suit, and with Buick once again in the saddle everything points to a massive run.

Forgotten Rules represents top Irish trainer Dermot Weld and is a very exciting prospect who looks a massive player.

Since winning a bumper at Punchestown last April, the five year-old has won his three starts on the flat in the manner of a high class performer.

After landing a minor event at Galway in facile fashion by eight lengths, Forgotten Rules took the step up into Group 2 company in his stride when beating Biographer by 1 3/4 lengths in the Long Distance Cup at this venue last October.

The son of Nayef then had little difficulty landing the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on return to action, and providing the ground is not too fast has every chance of providing Weld with his second winner of the race.

Of those at bigger prices, Kingfisher is an interesting contender given the tremendous record in the race of his trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle handler has won six of the last nine renewals, and Kingfisher is a classy sort who after shaping well when fourth to Forgotten Rules in the Vintage Crop landed a 1m 6f Listed contest at Navan in determined fashion.

Kingfisher came from well off the pace to finish with a rattle and beat Panama Hat by 1/2 a length, and it was an effort which suggested the four-year-old was well worth a crack at this trip.