O'Brien's hoping for more Gold Cup fame and glory

Though Fame And Glory won over 14 furlongs in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown late last month, he wasn't entirely convincing. Afterwards, O'Brien expressed the problem facing punters in the Gold Cup tomorrow.

He said: "When a horse wins over a mile-and-six furlongs you are always inclined to think that he will have a good chance of getting two miles but the extra half-mile is another matter and it is always an unknown until you try.

"I liked the way Fame And Glory showed he is a courageous horse. He had to fight and, as far as I'm concerned, he wasn't stopping."

If his jockey, Jamie Spencer, has a weakness it is his habit of dropping his mounts out at the rear of the field before delivering them for a late, late challenge. Sometimes he overdoes the waiting tactics. Yet Spencer can be forgiven if he tries to harness Fame And Glory's energy until the very last second tomorrow, so it could be a white knuckle ride for Spencer and punters alike.

Another to have his stamina tested like never before is Duncan, who came back to form with a narrow victory in last month's Yorkshire Cup.
Duncan has never been the most reliable of horses but he seems to have improved since he was gelded.

He made all the running at York but different tactics might be employed this time. John Gosden, the six-year-old's trainer, has described the horse, who has won five of his 16 starts, as an "enigmatic character".

He said: "Duncan's got a ton of talent, though it has been a little hard to winkle it out of him at times. He's got a turn of foot so he wants switching off a bit more."

With 50 winners in his first year as a trainer, David O'Meara has made a brilliant start to his new career. His greatest victory so far came with the rejuvenated stayer Blue Bajan in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month, which is the best trial for the Gold Cup.

It was sufficient for Blue Bajan's owner to fork out a supplementary entry fee of £25,000 to ensure his presence in tomorrow's line-up.

Saeed bin Suroor's Holberg and the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar are others with a chance in a race that is more open than the betting suggests.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Banimpire, who won at Cork earlier this month, can land the 1m4f Ribblesdale Stakes, and the Richard Hannon-trained Census should be able to send punters home happy by winning the closing King George V Handicap over the same trip.