ILL BE THE CUP HERO

O'Brien star ready to take on the legacy left by the great Kyprios

- By The Scout (Melissa Jones)

PROMOTED powerhouse of the staying division ILLINOIS can fly the flag for favourite backers in the £650,000 Ascot Gold Cup.

The four-year-old leapt to the top of Ballydoyle's pecking order when Aidan O'Brien called time on the career of dual Gold Cup hero Kyprios.

A very smart horse in his own right, Illinois was ridden like a confirmed stayer when he scooped the Queen's Vase here last season.

Seen again over 1m6½f, the son of Galileo gave generously in a nip-and-tuck battle for the St Leger at Doncaster behind stablemate Jan Brueghel. And Illinois showed the same gritty attitude to master Trafalgar Square in the Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp. Stamina for 2m4f has to be taken on trust but he has given every indication it will suit and O'Brien has found ideal candidates for nine runnings including four-time race record-holder Yeats.