Yeats for fourth Gold Cup?

The big question at today´s third day of the Royal Ascot meeting is whether Aidan O´Brien´s wonderful stayer Yeats (Johnny Murtagh) can set new standards by winning the Gold Cup for the fourth time. If he is in the form he showed when winning here last year (or the year before, or the year before that) then he will, but there is the small matter of a couple of below par performances since, in particular his poor showing at Navan in April, when beaten more than 30 lengths. However that was early in the season, when the stable was not yet in form, and the going was very heavy, which does not suit him at all. Today everything is in his favour and w expect him to create history by winning this historic race for the fourth time running.

Geordieland (Jamie Osborne/ Shane Kelly) has been runner-up the last twice and could well be booked for second place again. Like Yeats an 8yo, he is very consistent and although he rarely wins (earning him an unjustified reputation as a quitter) he is clear second best here. Previously it was expected that Patkai (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) would be Yeats´ main rival, but he could not live with Geordieland last time at Sandown and this trip, which he has never tried before, could be too far. Godolphin, whose stable form remains mysteriously poor, have 3 runners here, with stable jockey Frankie Dettori on Veracity, Ted Durcan riding Sagara and Ahmed Ajtebi on Eastern Anthem, on whom he won the Sheema Classic in Dubai., but at present it is hard to fancy any runners from this yard. We hope to see Yeats complete the four-timer, with Geordieland once again next best.

Betting forecast: Yeats - Patkai - Geordieland