The Victoria Cup is always a spectacle and with 28 runners declared, it will hopefully be a precursor to the field sizes we can expect at June's Royal meeting.
Ascot is a happy place to return to for the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Accidental Agent, who is 16/1 to win Saturday's race, after he gave his trainer a day to remember when conquering six time Group winner Lord Glitters in the 2018 Queen Anne.
Big field favours Johnson Houghton's runner
The eight-year-old, who is usually held up off the pace, loves a big field having gained five of his seven wins in fields bigger than ten runners, including a victory in a 26-runner affair back in 2016.
Houghton said: "He's in fantastic form, loves Ascot, loves a big field and he just wants to run with a smile on his face.
"I think he could run a big race. He loves meeting rising ground and horses stopping in front of him, which gives him confidence."
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Handicap concerns
The Group 1 winner bounced back to form to claim a comfortable two-length victory at Newmarket on his last start but was unfairly treated by the handicapper according to his trainer.
"He did win well last time, but it wasn't a very good race,” added Houghton. "That's why I ran him in it, so he could go and enjoy himself.
"On all known form, he should have picked them up and carried them and he did, but I still think 5lb is harsh."
Accidental Agent will be competing against a mainly younger field, but if the leaders go off too fast expect this one to be finishing powerfully in the final furlong.
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