Trueshan, a brave runner-up to Kyprios in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp last Saturday, is likely to cross the channel again for the Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud on Sunday week, where the distance is four and a half furlongs shorter.
Trainer Alan is proud of Trueshan’s effort, stating, “Kyprios has already beaten us twice this season and is clearly one of the all-time greats in the staying division, so I don’t see the point in taking him on again at Ascot.”
Trueshan was aiming for a record fourth win in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day, but Alan is content to skip it this year. He added, “Trueshan ran a terrific race at Longchamp, so if we give him one more run before his winter break, it will be the Prix Royal-Oak and not Ascot.”
Earlier in the season, Trueshan faced challenging tasks due to his G1 penalty, yet he maintained a consistent level of performance. In the latter half of the season, he has been running well without the added weight.
Meanwhile, the jumps season is starting to take shape at Chepstow on Saturday, where Alan has declared Rakki, Tritonic, and Grandeur d’Ame. Although Rakki is 0-8 on the Flat, he delivered a career-best performance when narrowly beaten by Almudena at Sandown in July. He’ll transition to jumping in a competitive five-runner juvenile hurdle that opens the Gwent programme.
Tritonic, representing Barbury in the Silver Trophy, is a three-time winner over hurdles. He has been performing well on the Flat, finishing a strong third in a Heritage handicap at York’s Ebor meeting, and also placed a commendable fourth at Aintree during last season’s Grand National fixture.
Grandeur d’Ame, a three-time winner over fences, returns after a summer break following an excellent fourth-place finish in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham’s pre-Christmas meeting last year.
Before this weekend, Loughville, carrying a 7lb penalty for his victory at Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free meeting, steps up in trip at Bath today in a challenging race, with Hollie Doyle in the saddle.
Brioni, who delivered a career-best performance to win at Ascot last month, has shown improvement since being gelded. However, the handicapper has raised him 8lb, meaning he will need to step up again in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket tomorrow.
Outgun will also compete tomorrow at Kempton, where he has previously won, having finished just half a length behind in a race on the same track in August. Now 3lb higher, the surface suits him, so fingers crossed for a strong performance.
