ROYAL Ascot rises to a crescendo on Thursday with the centrepiece of the five days being the Group One Gold Cup (4.15pm).

This is the ultimate test for stayers, run over a punishing two-and-a-half miles of Ascot, where only the toughest horses rise to the top.

Trawlerman has already proven he has all the attributes needed for this challenge after his success 12 months ago.

John and Thady Gosden’s eight-year-old followed his Gold Cup win with victories in the Lonsdale Cup at York and then the Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day in October.

On that form, he is the one to beat, but he hasn’t been seen since that win, with reports of a delay to his preparation and the development of a rare condition that requires him to wear goggle-like eye sun shields on the gallops.

There’s enough to doubt that he will be at his best on his return and that could leave the door open for Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia.

O’Brien has a sparkling record in the Gold Cup, winning it a record nine times since his first success with Yeats in 2006, and Scandinavia looks the next staying star to emerge from Ballydoyle.

He won the Goodwood Cup as a three-year-old and followed that by defeating Rahiebb to land a second Group One in the St Leger.

Having returned with two wins over a mile-and-three-quarters this season, he is clearly the one to beat, and the only thing against him is his short price.

He’s the likeliest winner but for a horse trying this trip for the first time, 13/8 looks skinny to me, and I’d rather look for a few value propositions against him.

AL RIFFA, who represents the in-form Joseph O’Brien yard, is the first of those.

A ready winner of the Irish St Leger last season, he finished a highly commendable seventh in the Melbourne Cup on his next outing.

The way he stayed on from the rear to finish a close third in soft ground in the Group One Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp last month, suggested this trip may be within his compass.

That’s among the best form in the field, and if he does stay this extreme trip, I can see him being a threat at the finish, so he’s one to play each-way at 8/1 with Star Sports.

CABALLO DE MAR finished just ahead of Al Riffa at Longchamp, lasting home after taking up the running a furlong out.

George Scott’s charge is one that is certain to stay, having won the Group One Prix du Cadran over this trip in very soft ground at Longchamp in October.

He has form on quick ground too, having narrowly gone down to Sweet William over two miles at Ascot in the Sagaro Stakes last month, and is worth supporting each-way.

Talking of taking on Aidan O’Brien-trained hot-pots, I’m keen to do the same in the opening Chesham Stakes (2.30pm).

Aix La Chapelle has been all the rage in the markets and could be a class apart, but he isn’t for me at the prices.

Instead, I thought Ballydoyle second string, SOUTH DAKOTA was interesting after his fourth behind stablemate Sergei Diaghilev on debut at the Curragh.

He was green early on, but made up good headway from the rear of the field before fading, leaving the impression he could take a big step forward from that.

Play him each-way at 7/1, along with Fozzy Stack’s NOLA SOUL, who created a good impression when winning on debut at Leopardstown and is highly thought of.

POINTERS                                                      THURSDAY

Nola Soul e/w                  2.30pm               Ascot

South Dakota e/w          2.30pm               Ascot

Al Riffa e/w                       4.15pm               Ascot

Caballo De Mar e/w       4.15pm               Ascot