Aiken and Ile De Re want more rain ahead of Long Distance Cup
Published:Conditions currently remain soft at Ascot ahead of British Champions Day despite 5mm of overnight rain, but Aiken and Ile De Re will seemingly have the most to gain in the Long Distance Cup if the heavens continue to open in the coming days.
Ground conditions will almost certainly be classified as heavy on Ascot’s round course if the rain persists and this will allow punters to take advantage of plenty of each-way value in the 2m staying contest.
Aiken is now the sole representative of John Gosden after Camborne and Caucus were withdrawn at the latest declaration stage and he is 11/2 to win the Long Distance Cup.
He remains one of the most unknown quantities among the remaining nine runners, as he is the youngest in the field at four years old and is stepping up to 2m for the first time.
What is interesting is that Aiken has triumphed on all three of his starts on ground deemed to be soft or worse and therefore may relish a waterlogged Ascot.
It has to be taken with a degree of risk that Aiken will stay the trip, but he is certainly worthy of each-way consideration.
Another reason for this is that Colour Vision and Saddler’s Rock are both prominent in the Long Distance Cup betting, but have not collected a victory between them ever on soft or heavy ground.
Punters reluctant to rely on Aikman’s stamina should have no such concerns about Ile De Re, who is another that tempts each-way at 8/1.
He is easily the most experienced horse when it comes to softer conditions and his history competing over hurdles means that this will be a relatively short race by his standards.
Meanwhile, he has never been out of the first three on heavy ground and has won his last two starts on soft.
The main doubt about Ile De Re’s chance is whether he is up to this level of competition as he has only competed in handicap company on the Flat up until this point, although this does include victories in the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
