Many have argued since the retirement of Yeats two seasons ago that the staying division is lacking quality, but this year's Ascot Gold Cup could prove the knockers wrong as a multiple Group 1 winner steps up to the marathon trip of two and half miles to take on the defending champion, Rite of Passage. Who will emerge victorious?... First of all, let's discuss the new pretender, Fame And Glory. His profile of having won three Group 1s, including last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom, is similar to that of Yeats before he ventured into the staying division. Of course, this does not mean that this year's Ballydoyle representative will go on to win four Gold Cups, but it is interesting that Aidan O'Brien is trying him at the distance. It has also has to be considered that this was on the cards at the end of last season, because why else would a breeding operation as successful as Coolmore want to keep a multiple Group 1 winner in training as a five-year-old. Remember, during his three-year old season Fame And Glory was competing against one of the greatest middle-distance racehorses of all time in Sea The Stars. If it was not for John Oxx's star, he could have easily won the Epsom Derby and Irish Champion Stakes and then been retired to stud. This season Fame And Glory has been tried at longer distances in preparation for Royal Ascot and has come up against largely inferior opposition. He won the Saval Beg narrowly (from Vivacious Vivienne, Timeform rated 106) when a very short-priced favourite at Leopardstown last time, after which his Ascot price drifted to 4.3, many taking the view that the reappearing Rite of Passage, who finished third, put up the better trial. Fame And Glory will have a few questions against his name if he goes for the Gold Cup, and not just whether he will stay that marathon trip, but also quite what form he is currently capable of, given that it is now about a year since he posted a 130 performance in winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom. As already mentioned, Dermot Weld's defending Gold Cup champion Rite of Passage is the horse that took the eye of punters on his comeback run behind Fame and Glory in the Saval Beg. Off the bridle half a mile from home, Rite of Passage stayed on gamely into third over a trip which was too short, and on the back of an 11-month lay-off. A somewhat surprise participant a year ago after a promising season over hurdles which saw him sent off favourite in the Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Rite of Passage was overlooked in the market when sent off 24.5 on Betfair, but had too much for a field that had many questions marks over it, and it could be a similar scenario again if he can overcome what have been reported as 'little training problems'. Weld was apparently satisfied with Rite of Passage's latest piece of work and the defending champ is definitely the one to beat if getting the green light. John Gosden's Duncan was successful when he tried a staying distance for the first time at York on his seasonal reappearance, beating Blue Bajan, who has franked the form since, and has to come into the reckoning. Duncan kept finding himself outclassed against star middle-distance performers in Group 1s last year, but his win at Longchamp in an Arc trial at the backend of last season showed he still has the ability to be competitive in major races. Like Fame and Glory, there are doubts whether he will get the trip as, though his half-brother Samuel was a Doncaster Cup winner, Duncan himself isn't a thorough staying type. Blue Bajan has yet to be supplemented for the race but is still rather popular among the bigger priced horses in the Betfair market at around 18.0. He has found a new lease of life since joining the up-and-coming David O'Meara, who couldn't be in better form, and produced a near career-best performance when winning the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month. His strength is his stamina, and he will relish this test of two and a half miles, likely to still be running on as others begin to tire. If he takes his chance, he could be good value for a place. Holberg won at this meeting two years ago, when outstaying his rivals in the two-mile Queen's Vase for Mark Johnston. Holberg sustained an injury after the race, which set him back a bit, but he did win a couple of listed races at Goodwood and finish sixth in Melbourne Cup for Godolphin last year. He ran as though he needed the race at Sandown behind Blue Bajan last time, but if he's to play a part in this then he'll have to improve as well as showing new stamina reserves. There has been market support for the French pair, the progressive Brigantin and dual-purpose Kasbah Bliss, but they have a bit to find with the British runners. The French have tried and failed a few times in the Gold Cup in recent years, most notably with the unbeaten Coastal Path a couple of years ago, who was hyped as the one to dethrone Yeats but ultimately didn't stay. This is promising to be one of the most intriguing Gold Cups, to see if Ballydoyle have once again transformed a top-class middle distance horse into a dominant staying champion, but the percentage call is to go with the one who has the proven staying power, making Rite of Passage the selection, in the hope he makes the line-up. If Blue Bajan is supplemented, he could be worth an interest in the place market

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