Estimate or Voleuse De Coeurs may do it for ladies in Ascot Gold Cup

Female entrants have not fared particularly well in the Ascot Gold Cup in the last decade, but there is a chance that their miserable record could improve this year with Estimate and Voleuse De Coeurs both among the entries to take part.

Seven females have lined up in the Royal Ascot 2m4f marathon in the last 10 years and none of them have even managed to fill the frame, let alone secure victory.

However, none of this septet were especially well fancied for the Ascot Gold Cup, with 12/1 the shortest starting price.

Ladbrokes are top price on Estimate this year at 10/1 in the Royal Ascot odds and she showed plenty of ability as a three-year-old last season when landing the Queen’s Vase at the course.

The last campaign finished with two further placed efforts before winning on her seasonal reappearance, extending her Ascot record to 2-2 when landing the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes.

Estimate’s obvious liking for the course and the fact her half brother Enzeli is a former Ascot Gold Cup winner suggests that she will be an each-way player.

The other fancied female, who can currently be backed at 20/1, is Voleuse De Coeurs, on the back of her recent victory in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

This could be significant as three of the four winners to attempt the double with the Ascot Gold Cup in the last 10 years were successful. The one exception was Fame And Glory 12 months ago, who was a beaten 4/5 favourite at Royal Ascot.

Dermot Weld is also considering running a second filly in Pale Mimosa, who could outrun an ante-post price of 25/1 if getting a firm surface in the race, as opposed to when she was fifth at Longchamp in her last start in October in soft conditions.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.