BOOKIES have cut an Aidan O’Brien superstar for Royal Ascot success again – after a key rival suffered an injury setback.
Awesome stayer Kyprios swept all before him in 2022 before injury robbed him of the chance of more success last year.
Bookies already reported the Ascot Gold Cup was turning into a ‘one-horse race’ following a surge of cash on the Ballydoyle inmate.
And Coral were forced to cut him into evens following news last year’s winner Courage Mon Ami was a doubt for the race.
The Wathnan-owned five-year-old was steered to success at the Royal meeting by Frankie Dettori 12 months ago.
Courange Mon Ami, who is trained by John & Thady Gosden, has not been seen since finishing second in a York Group 2 last August.
He was 6-1 for the 2m4f contest but connections are now ‘investigating’ to see how bad the injury is.
Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, told the Racing Post: “He had a bit of a training setback last week and had some time off.
“We’re now investigating this week to see whether it’s serious or not.
“Until we really dig into it, we just don’t know so we’ll see what the vets find and then we can make a plan.”
Kyprios was workmanlike but successful in the Group 3 Saval Beg over 1m6f last Friday.
O’Brien said it was ‘great to get him back’ after his troubles – while bookies cut his price for Ascot shorter.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “We don’t yet know if Courage Mon Ami’s setback is serious enough to rule him out of the Royal meeting, but clearly the timing must throw a doubt over his participation.
“As a result, Kyprios is now into evens to repeat his 2022 Gold Cup victory.”
Ascot Gold Cup odds via Coral
Evens Kyprios
5-1 Gregory
8-1 Trawlerman, Vauban
10-1 Courage Mon Ami
12-1 Blow The Horn, Caius Chorister
14-1 Coltrane
16-1 Continuous, Queenstown
20-1 Bar
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