ELDAR ELDAROV (4:20) can go the distance for Roger Varian in the Gold Cup on Day Three of Royal Ascot. The colt looked a top-class stayer in the making when chinning Zechariah in the Queen’s Vase here. The bay then didn’t handle dropping down to 1m 4f when fourth in Group 1 company at Longchamp. However, he relished returning to 1m 6f when hammering New London in the St Leger at Doncaster. The four-year-old was then beaten by fatigue rather than the two-mile trip when flopping back here. He set himself up nicely for this historic prize with a superb comeback second to Giavellotto at York. The bold-galloper should relish the demands of this 2m 4f marathon so he can join the staying elite.