Boistron issues Cup challenge

Tac De Boistron emerged as a major contender for the Ascot Gold Cup when easily defying a 7lb Group One penalty in the Sagaro Stakes at the Berkshire course yesterday.

Marco Botti’s soft-ground specialist, a five-length winner of last autumn’s Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp, scored by the same margin under Frankie Dettori.

The grey is 8-1 third favourite for the stayers’ crown next month, behind the St Leger winner Leading Light and last year’s Gold Cup heroine Estimate. “There is a Group Two in France at the end of May, but he was so impressive we’ll probably bypass that and wait for the Gold Cup and see what ground we get,” Botti said.