Doubts over Marienbard stamina for Cup

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor warned today that he is not certain Gold Cup favourite Marienbard will stay the trip in Thursday week`s Royal Ascot showpiece event.

His four-year-old is 4-1 co-market leader with the Tote for the two-and-a-half-mile contest, which Godolphin have won with Kayf Tara (twice) and Classic Cliche in recent years.

But the trainer is just hoping for the best with last month`s Yorkshire Cup winner.

'We ran him at York to see if he was good enough for the Gold Cup and we were happy with him,' he said.

'The way he works and trains he can stay the trip but it is a new distance for him.'

Stable-companion West Order is set for as belated reappearance in Wednesday`s Jersey Stakes, after missing past engagements in the 2000 Guineas and its Irish equivalent.

'He did very well on the sand in Dubai in the winter,' bin Suroor said of the colt who has not raced since he won both his starts for Richard Hannon last year.

'We were really happy with him and thought he was one of our stars. But since he came back to England he has had a little problem with his heels and we have given him time.'

Coronation Cup winner Mutafaweq is set for a rather quicker return to action in Friday week`s Hardwicke Stakes, re-opposing short-head runner-up Wellbeing.

'He has come back from the race very well,' bin Suroor said. 'He is a tough and brave horse and he looks fresh.'