No horse has managed to win four in the long and proud history of the Royal Ascot Gold Cup, but what are records if they’re not there to be broken?
Aidan O’Brien’s superstar eight year old Yeats, winner of this contest in 2006, 2007 & 2008, steps up to try and etch his name onto the famous trophy for an unprecedented fourth time on Thursday afternoon, and with conditions absolutely ideal he should be primed to once again deny principal market rival Geordieland in the 2m 4f contest (3.45pm).
Critics rightly point to his dismal showing in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in April, when he could finish only sixth (beaten some 32 lengths), albeit on ground far softer than he’d have preferred.
Looking at the bigger picture however don’t forget last season yielded two Group 1’s (Lonchamp’s Prix Royal Oak plus the Gold Cup) and a Group 2 (Goodwood Cup).
One swallow doesn’t make a summer and one poor performance shouldn’t see Yeats written off as a has-been.
He really seems to come alive at Ascot, and with his master trainer desperate to win this and the assistance of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, he can prove the doubters wrong.
My RTE colleague Robert Hall went to shoot a feature with O’Brien a couple of days prior to the Irish Guineas meeting at the Curragh. It’s fair to say he left Ballydoyle with a highly positive outlook on the great horse’s chances.
The danger to me lies in Patkai, another Ascot lover who possesses a brutal finishing kick and is half the age of Yeats and Geordieland.
He may well be the answer in 12 months time, but for now look no further than the 5/2 with Betfred about Yeats.
A little earlier in the day there’s a cracking line up for the Ribblesdale Stakes at 3.05pm, and I’m excited about the prospects of John Gosden’s filly Take The Hint.
A Yarmouth maiden winner last backend she wintered well and was produced to win the Pretty Polly at Newmarket on Guineas day on her seasonal reappearance.
Immediately after that race the suggestions were the form wasn’t up to much, but the race has worked out well in time and she looks to be perfectly suited by the step up to a mile and a half. Her progress can continue by bagging a lucrative Group 2 here.
The 3/1 with Ladbrokes looks a reasonable price. Good luck!
Thursday’s bets at Royal Ascot:
3.05 Ribblesdale Stakes – 8 Take The Hint (win) @ 3/1 (Ladbrokes - £25 Free Bet)
3.45 Gold Cup – 5 Yeats (win) @ 5/2 (Betfred - £50 Free Bet)
Tags: 18th june, Ascot, bbc, bet, bets, betting, free, ladies day, odds, offers, thursday, tip, tips, tom lee
