Trueshan was beaten at long odds-on last time at the Doncaster Cup; the stayer requires cut in the ground, with showers expected ahead of Saturday's Long Distance Cup; watch every race on Champions Day, live on Sky Sports Racing
Sunday 9 October 2022 16:39, UK
Alan King may wait for the Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp should the ground prove too quick for Trueshan ahead of Saturday's Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
The crack stayer needs plenty of cut underfoot if he is to run at Ascot this weekend, with his defence of the Group Two prize he won last year dependent on the weather, with a dry early part of the week forecast before showers from Thursday.
King said: "The plan is to run him at Ascot, but I am a wee bit concerned looking at the forecast, to be honest.
"He is in good form, but we will need rain and I do have the option of waiting for the Royal-Oak the following week, in which we'd almost certainly get soft ground, if we have to wait.
"I do want to go to Ascot, but we do need a break in the weather."
Winner of both the Goodwood Cup and Prix du Cadran last season, the Barbury Castle handler has been frustrated by a dry summer for his stable star, with the six-year-old running just three times on turf.
Though beaten a neck by Coltrane when long odds-on in the Doncaster Cup when last seen, King reports him in fine fettle.
"He's all going very well. He's had a good break since Doncaster and he's fresh and well, but I will want soft ground [to run at Ascot]."
