Tattersalls Gold Cup: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Racing needs rivalries and Sunday’s Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup sees the best from Britain, Ireland and France face-off in a gripping renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, live on Racing TV at 2.45pm.

Vadeni, Luxembourg and Bay Bridge all boast Group One winning form and add spice to an already fantastic day of action at the Curragh.

Below is a guide to all six runners, as well as some galloping clues.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute. General odds: 7-4.

A classy winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes last season, his claims are obvious as he looks to give Sir Michael Stoute a third win in the race following Opera House (1992) and Notnowcato (2007).

He will come on plenty for his comeback in the Prix Ganay and drying ground will also play to his strengths.

However, this could turn tactical and my concern is whether he boasts the same explosive turn of foot as Vadeni, which could be crucial at the business end.

Trainer: Noel Meade. Odds: 33-1.

Won the Mooresbridge over course and distance last term and has run well with placed efforts in three Group events this season.

However, this demands a career-best and he is hard to make a case for.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Odds: 3-1.

It was some training performance from Aidan O’Brien to get Luxembourg back from injury to land the Irish Champion Stakes last year and he was far from disgraced when seventh in the Arc.

He ran better than the bare result suggests on his return when fifth in the Mooresbridge over course and distance as he was hampered entering the final furlong before sticking on again.

He clearly should come on a ton for that effort, with O’Brien describing that race as “a bit of a mess” on this week’s special edition of On The Wire.

O’Brien will have him cherry ripe for this contest and, given his winning form over a mile, and the manner of his Irish Champion Stakes win, he will also not be lacking for a turn of foot if they go a crawl early.

He commands all sorts of respect for a trainer who has won this race nine times.

Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien Odds: 33-1.

He ultimately proved disappointing last term after his Ballysax win, with his stand-out effort being a second to Westover in the Irish Derby. He finished in front of Luxembourg on his return in the Mooresbridge and he could ultimately be most effective over the 10-furlong trip.

I think there is certainly more to come in his four-year-old season, but he needs to find more against established Group One contenders.

Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget. Odds: --

Fair play to connections for supplementing last summer’s Coral-Eclipse hero, whose long-term aim this year is undoubtedly the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

He was a length and a half behind Bay Bridge in the Prix Ganay on his return, but that was a muddling affair and he never got involved in the finish, despite racing with the winner Iresine throughout.

Despite winning form on soft, he clearly looks a horse who is as effective on top of the ground, as he showed at Sandown last season.

Crucially, the turn of foot he showed to come with a withering run to score at Sandown could be equally effective here. With a lack of pace, it looks likely that this could develop into a sprint close home, and if that were the case, he is the one you would want on your side.

Trainer: Jessica Harrington. Odds: 50-1.

Dual Group scorer in France last season and finished sixth in the Mooresbridge on her return. This demands much more, though.

A race to savour. However, the lack of pace is a concern for backers of Bay Bridge. He potentially lacks the same turn of foot as Vadeni or Luxembourg. With that in mind, Jean-Claude Rouget’s charge gets the vote. He will love the ground and under Christophe Soumillon, he will be produced late. Luxembourg is deeply respected and looks sure to be involved at the business end, too.

1. Vadeni. 2. Luxembourg. 3. Bay Bridge.