What is the british equivalent to Australia's melbourne cup ?

Question

What is the british equivalent to Australia's melbourne cup ?

Answer 1

Interesting to see responses from the UK....searching on that sort of question brings back responses along the lines of Aintree's Grand National. Perhaps because of the interest which occurs outside of the racing industry itself.

If you're talking of races where  European horses tend to come from before running in the Melb Cup it's probably a race like the Irish St Leger. Run over 2800m, it's 400m less than the Melb Cup but because of the Irish interest a number of runners have come through this race prior to running in Aust. It's a decent staying test, but with a smaller field perhaps.

Another race that perhaps fits the bill is the Ascot Gold Cup [4000m]  and which I'd settle on as an answer. It's run during the famed Ascot carnival, much like the Melbourne Cup is during the Flemington carnival. With a strong history, it's a race which is considered to be one of the main staying races of the year. Similar to the Irish St Leger a number of runners have come from the Ascot Gold Cup to the Melbourne Cup, but with limited success.

Two time winner Yeats ran in the Melb Cup last year and may do so again.