Trueshan’s Long Distance Cup defence under threat

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.”