Gold Cup 2023: Eldar Eldarov can shine at Royal Ascot
For those who love horse race betting, there are few more exciting times of year than the Royal Ascot meeting. And, there is no more exciting and historic race of the royal meeting than the Group 1 Gold Cup. The 2 ½-mile race is one of the most prestigious races of the year for stayers, with a history stretching back to 1807. It also offers a purse of £600,000, one of the best of the year in its division.
Stay here to find out the best places to bet the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot online, and the best horses to bet in this year’s edition of the prestigious race!
Betting the 2023 Gold Cup Online
To bet the 2023 Gold Cup, your best bet is to play the race at a trusted online sportsbook. After all, they offer the convenience of betting anywhere from your computer, smartphone, or tablet, and they offer market-leading odds that you just won’t find at a racetrack or OTB parlor. It can seem daunting at first because there are so many options, but our online racebook reviews give you the insight you need to make a fast, confident choice.
All of our recommended racebooks offer great bonuses for Royal Ascot players. These benefits include sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral incentives, and even horse racing rebates. Take a few minutes to find the best racebook bonus offers for your wagering style, and get ready to build your Royal Ascot betting bankroll by hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
The Best Online Racebooks
These are the best online racebooks for playing the 2023 Gold Cup:
| Rank | Racebook | Bonus | Review | Link to site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | $250 Free Bet on Props + Head-to-Heads | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #2 |  | 100% Sign Up Bonus - Up to $500 | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #3 |  | 50% up to $1,000 + $25 Risk Free Bet + 7% Rebates | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #4 |  | 100% sign-up bonus up to $300 + 8% rebate | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #5 |  | Up to 13% Weekly Loyalty Rewards | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #6 |  | 50% sign-up bonus up to $250 | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #7 |  | $100 Free Bet on Props + Head-to-Heads! | VISIT RACEBOOK! |
Gold Cup Handicapping
Now that you know where to bet the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting online, it is time to get to know the leading contenders for the Gold Cup.
Gold Cup 2023 Field
This is the official 2023 Gold Cup field including betting numbers, post positions, trainers, and jockeys. Note that their betting number and post typically do not match; these are assigned separately in English racing, unlike in American or Canadian racing.
- Big Call (Christophe Ferland/Stephane Pasquier) - Post 13
- Broome (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lorden) -Post 14
- Coltrane (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) - Post 12
- Lone Eagle (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan) - Post 2
- Nate the Great (Andrew Balding/Harry Davies) - Post 4
- Subjectivist (Charlie Johnston/Joe Fanning) - Post 11
- Tashkhan (Brian Ellison/James Doyle) - Post 1
- Trueshan (Alan King/Hollie Doyle) - Post 8
- Wise Eagle (Adam Nicol/Daniel Tudhope) - Post 5
- Yibir (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) - Post 6
- Courage Mon Ami (John and Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) - Post 9
- Eldar Edlarov (Roger Varian/David Egan) - Post 10
- Echoes in Rain (Willie Mullins - Tom Marquand) - Post 7
- Emily Dickinson (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) - Post 3
With the race drawn, make sure to keep a keen eye on the odds at your favorite online betting site. Since online betting sites offer fixed-odds wagering on major races like the Gold Cup, you don’t have to worry about late swings in odds. When you place your bet, you lock in the best odds: it’s that simple.
These are the prices on horses at the top of the Gold Cup market:
 | |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coltrane | +330 | +330 | +330 |
| Eidar Eldarov | +400 | +350 | +400 |
| Emily Dickinson | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Courage Mon Ami | +500 | +800 | +500 |
| Subjectivist | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Broome | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
Gold Cup Favorites
Coltrane won the Ascot Stakes last year over this course and distance against softer company, and looks to step forward to the top level. He stepped forward well through late last season, trading blows with Trueshan near the end of the campaign, and returned with a decisive 4 ¾ length-victory in the Sagaro (G3), the traditional local prep for this race. He has yet to win at this level, but he is better than ever.
Eldar Eldarov, last year’s St. Leger (G1) winner, is the best bet in the Gold Cup. He disappointed over two miles at Ascot last October, which raises some questions for this outing. However, it was his final start in a long campaign. He came back with a close second in the Yorkshire Cup (G2) for his seasonal bow, and looks like the kind of horse who should be able to move forward with the conditioning and extra ground.
Courage Mon Ami is a strange entrant: the improving four-year-old has raced just three times, far fewer starts than your average Gold Cup contender, much less one getting betting action. This is also a serious class test. But his trainers John and Thady Gosden are prodigious winners (John won this race three times with Stradivarius!), and he gets a rider upgrade to eight-time Gold Cup winner Frankie Dettori.
Gold Cup Bet-Againsts
Trainer Aidan O’Brien, an eight-time winner of this race, sends both Emily Dickinson and Broome. Both will take money given their barn, but both raise serious questions. Broome looked promising in his Dubai Gold Cup (G2) win but disappointed next out and it is not a positive that Ryan Moore is going elsewhere. He wouldn’t be a surprise in the deepest exotics, but on top his chances are dodgy at best.
Moore takes the call on Emily Dickinson, who has shown good form over staying distances and still has some upside, as she is only four. However, her best has come on heavier ground and the ground will be good for the Gold Cup this year. With the top end of the Gold Cup so competitive, she seems an underlay even with the barn’s “A” rider.
Gold Cup Value Horse
Trueshan spent the end of the campaign trading blows with Coltrane. Unfortunately he finished a dull fourth behind that foe at odds-on in the Sagaro, which raises questions. That said, he has had wind surgery since that start. If wind surgery does in fact get him back anywhere close to his better form, he will be a serious threat at a massive price.
Especially with rider Hollie Doyle starting the Royal meeting well, and keeping the faith? Trueshan is a good each-way play and a must-use in exotics.
2023 Gold Cup Free Picks
With your betting account set up and the major contenders in the field introduced, there’s one more thing to do: place your bet on the 2023 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. These are the expert best bets on the race:
- $20 to win - #12 Eldar Eldarov
- $10 each way - #8 Trueshan
- $1 exacta key - #12 Eldar Eldarov with #3 Coltraine, #8 Trueshan
- $0.50 trifecta key - #12 Eldar Eldarov with #3 Coltraine, #8 Trueshan, #11 Courage Mon Ami
- $0.50 superfecta key - #12 Eldar Eldarov with #2 Broome, #3 Coltraine, #8 Trueshan, #11 Courage Mon Ami
Gold Cup Post Time
Post time for the 2023 Gold Cup is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. GMT, or 11:20 a.m. Eastern, on Thursday, June 22. The race is the featured fourth out of seven races on the third day of the Royal Ascot festival.
