Subjectivist can crown recovery by regaining Ascot Gold Cup

J ust six months after taking sole ownership of the licence at the Johnston family’s yard in Middleham, Charlie Johnston will complete one of the finest training feats that Royal Ascot has seen on Thursday if Subjectivist takes the Gold Cup, the meeting’s showpiece event, for the second time in three years.

Subjectivist was just four years old when he beat a field that included Stradivarius, one of the best stayers of recent decades, in the 2021 Gold Cup, and seemed poised to dominate the division for several seasons to come.

He suffered a career-threatening tendon injury soon afterwards, however, and had been off the track for 618 days when he returned to action in Saudi Arabia in February, finishing 12th of 13 runners.

But Subjectivist (4.20) seemed much more like his old self in the Dubai Gold Cup a month later, when he briefly looked the likeliest winner in the straight before fading late on.

His rivals on Thursday inevitably bring much stronger recent form to the table, including a Classic victory in last year’s St Leger in the case of Eldar Eldarov.

The fact remains, however, that Subjectivist’s emphatic success here two years ago is the best piece of form on offer, and if his stable has indeed nursed him back to his best for Thursday’s race, he could be significantly over-priced at around 10-1.

Ascot 2.30 The US-trained American Rascal and No Nay Mets need to be taken seriously after Crimson Advocate’s Queen Mary win on Wednesday, but Elite Status could not have been any more impressive in the National Stakes last time and is surely the one to beat.

Ascot 3.05 Valiant King led on the bridle before pulling nearly six lengths clear in a useful time to break his maiden at Navan in May, and has looked sure to