Highwayman added to Long Distance Cup mix St Leger hero Highwayman will join the array of stars on show at Ascot on Saturday after being supplemented for the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup. Joseph O’Brien’s colt played an integral part on a historic day at Doncaster last month as Saffie Osborne became the first woman to ride the winner of a British Classic. A trip to Australia for a tilt at the Melbourne Cup was considered, but connections ultimately decided against a trip across the globe and he has instead been added to the field for this weekend’s two-mile Group One at a cost of £37,500. O’Brien said: “Highwayman has been supplemented for the staying race. He’s had a good preparation. I’m happy with him and he’s trained well since Doncaster. “It’s a step up to go against the older horses and up further in distance. Hopefully, he can cope with it.” Browne McMonagle Set for Champions Day Return With O’Brien’s stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle returning from injury with one ride at Roscommon on Monday, he is set to take over from Osborne in the saddle. “Dylan’s back riding, so hopefully everything goes smoothly this week and he’ll be back riding this weekend,” the trainer added. “He’s been off for a while now, so it’s great for him and for us to have him back.” Highwayman is among 12 potential runners in the Long Distance Cup, with star stayer Scandinavia one of four contenders for Aidan O’Brien alongside Queenstown, Pierre Bonnard and Amelia Earhart. The home team is headed by George Scott’s Caballo De Mar, who inflicted a shock defeat on Scandinavia when successfully defending his crown in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend. John and Thady Gosden’s Gregory and Amiloc from Ralph Beckett’s yard are also in the mix. Constitution River Drops to Mile for QEII Constitution River is set to drop back to a mile after being supplemented for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The French Derby and Coral-Eclipse winner has finished third on his last couple of starts over a mile and quarter in the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes and it will be fascinating to see how he fares over the shorter distance. Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York has also been supplemented for a 13-strong QEII that includes Rayif (Francis-Henri Graffard), More Thunder (William Haggas), Ten Bob Tony (Ed Walker) and Zavateri (Eve Johnson Houghton). Almeraq heads a list of 17 confirmations for the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes. The Haggas-trained four-year-old has already won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and the Sprint Cup at Group One level this season and he will be a warm order to add to his tally against a field that features the 2024 winner of this race, James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue, and Karl Burke’s filly Soul Love, who has been supplemented after a Group Three win in Ireland last month. Kalpana Eyes Ascot Hat-Trick After Arc Run Kalpana could bid for a third straight win in the Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for trainers’ title-chasing Andrew Balding. It is a quick turnaround for the five-year-old after finishing fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe less than a fortnight ago, but she clearly excels at Ascot, having also won the King George this summer. Balding has also supplemented See The Fire and Graffard has added Tajlina to form part of a potential field of 15. The going at Ascot is described as ‘good’ and Ascot’s clerk of the course and head of racing, Chris Stickels, is not expecting any significant change to conditions for the weekend. Stickels Expects Fair Ground Despite Forecast Rain He said: “We’re in really good shape ahead of Saturday and can confirm that we will be on the normal Flat track. “There could be the odd shower early in the week and then some rain is forecast for Thursday night into Friday, but only between 2-5mm is expected. “Unless the forecast changes drastically — and I don’t think it’s going to — I would expect us to be similar ground to where we are now which is good all over on both the round and straight course.”
