Following their selection of Daryz for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Weekend Winners panel shifted its focus to Ascot’s prestigious Challenge Cup. The heritage handicap over seven furlongs has assembled a full field of 18 runners, with Thunder Call currently standing as the early market favorite for trainer William Haggas. He faces stiff competition from Moonfall, trained by the Billy Loughnane and George Boughey partnership, alongside the highly regarded Royal Ascot victor, Mezcala.
Sam Boswell acknowledged the difficulty of the contest, noting that while he respects Thunder Call’s chances, he found the odds of 11/4 too short to back. Instead, Boswell expressed interest in Richard Spencer’s Two Tribes, a horse currently priced around 20/1. He pointed to the gelding’s impressive performance at Ascot, where he finished second in the International having carried one pound less than his current mark. With jockey Toby Moore booked for the ride—providing a crucial seven-pound weight allowance—Boswell highlighted the strong form of Extremely Zain, who finished fourth behind Two Tribes in that race and has since won impressively at York.
Declan Rix also cast his vote in favor of Mezcala, expressing hope that Port Master participates to provide necessary pace in what he described as a potentially messy race. Rix noted that although the straight track configuration is designed to conserve the horses’ energy for Champions Day, it can still split the field even with a reduced number of runners. He dismissed previous concerns about Mezcala’s performance at Doncaster, attributing the outcome to the unfavorable high draw of 14 and a running style that did not suit the conditions. Although the horse remains above his winning mark from Royal Ascot, Rix is backing him at 15/2, citing his strong record at this specific track and trip, as well as his long-standing partnership with jockey George Bass.
The Challenge Cup is scheduled to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday at 3:35 pm. Full coverage and analysis from the Weekend Winners panel are available on the At The Races YouTube channel.
I’m sticking with Thunder Call. Seven furlongs on the straight is his cup of tea, despite the short price.
Two Tribes at 20/1 with that weight allowance sounds like a decent bet. The form looks solid enough.
I’m surprised no one mentioned the rain. If it’s heavy, does Mezcala still hold the edge?