Ascot thursday: can Yeats make it 4 in a row?

Yeats history bid 'huge' moment for Ballydoyle


YEATS bids to create history in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday with jockey Johnny Murtagh looking forward to what he describes as a "huge" moment for all concerned at Ballydoyle.


Three victories in the Gold Cup and two in the Goodwood Cup have established Yeats as the best stayer in 20 years, and glory on Thursday would single him out as arguably the best of all time as the only horse to have won the Ascot showpiece four times.

Murtagh rode Yeats last year and is in the saddle again, as he bids to help the Aidan O'Brien-trained eight-year-old put a very disappointing reappearance run at Navan behind him.

"He's going to be huge for us this week," said Murtagh. "He's going to be huge for everyone. He's in great shape and Ascot is where he shines most brightly.

"Fast ground, two and a half miles around there, he has to have a big chance.

"Seamus [Heffernan] rides him in a lot of his work at home and he says he has definitely come forward since Navan.

"He's in good form and he obviously knows Ascot well. He seems to come alive with the big crowd on the big day and we're hoping he can do it again.

"No horse has won the Gold Cup four times so it would be something special if he can do it and that's what Royal Ascot is all about.

"Special things happen over the week there."

Jamie Osborne's Geordieland has been second to Yeats in the last two Gold Cups, as well as in the 2006 Goodwood Cup.

His attitude has been called into question on more than one occasion, but he showed renewed resolution at Sandown in the Henry II Stakes when he sprinted five lengths clear of Patkai.

"Everything has gone fine, nothing has gone wrong - touching all available wood as there is still time I suppose," said Osborne.

"They are both the same age, which everyone seems to be forgetting, but win, lose or draw tomorrow, isn't it fantastic that you've got the first and second from the last two Gold Cups reopposing?

"They are first and second favourites - it's like National Hunt racing.

"It's going to be a fantastic race and it is great to be a part of it.

"Obviously one would appear better than the other at the moment but they are fantastic stayers.

"People talk about age but I'm not really with them on that because Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse were winning Champion Hurdles at 11.

"If these two were hurdlers they'd just be coming into their prime with the only difference being they are not geldings.

"They are great horses and it would be great to see them fight out the finish again - but obviously with a different result.

"For the last two years we've come away from Ascot feeling that we've got the second-best Gold Cup horse around, maybe a part of me felt that would always be the case.

"I firmly believe that we might not be the second-best around."

Yeats bids for a fourth victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday,

The greatest stayer of his generation chasing another slice of turf history.

And we still believe.

Sure he was beaten 32 lengths in a Listed race at Navan on his reappearance but that was on testing ground.

Back on his beloved Ascot turf we will see the real Yeats again - won't we?

Even Timeform, those hard-nosed number crunchers, retain the faith.

Spokesman Kieran Packman explained: "The Gold Cup revolves around Yeats, there's no doubting that, as he bids for an unprecedented fourth success.

"A replication of the form shown in any of his previous three wins will be good enough, but the fact he's available at the price he is obviously stems from his uncharacteristically dismal reappearance.

"On that occasion, on heavy ground, he ran some four stone below his best, by some way his worst performance since disappointing in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud way back in 2005.

"Given stamina/well-being concerns surround Eastern Anthem, who's second top-rated on his Nad Al Sheba win in March, and Geordieland is held by Yeats on all three previous meetings, Yeats strikes us as well worth keeping faith with at current odds."

But are we letting the heart rule the head? Yeats at his best would win on Thursday but at the age of eight does the fire still burn as bright as it once did? Are the old legs ready to play the pain game again?

We weren't sure Geordieland had the fight in him. Even when we saw him saunter up to Patkai in the Henry II Stakes it was still the same old Geordieland.

It was when he swept on by the favourite the alarm bells began to sound.

Had the old character turned over a new leaf?

Jamie Osborne, the man who should know, thinks so. He's seen it on the home gallops this season. For some reason in 2009 Geordieland has decided it's more fun to pass horses than sit in their slipstream.

He is the danger but if Yeats is on-song, we could see one of the great Royal Ascot races unfolding in front of us at 1545.

It promises to be the highlight of the week.

Should be another great days racing.

Monsieur Chevalier can make it 5 in a row at the expense of Yagaroo.

Leocorna has two from two and Ryan Moore can make it three?

Gold Cup enough said, if Yeats wins, one of the biggest receptions for any horse?

Freemantle can be another winner for Murtagh.

good punting!

scotia

Been an old fashioned bookies rush on yeats today in to 15/8 now

Probably just public money "wanting" it to win,

Serious 2yo there very impressive after getting hampered

After watching the replay, I am astonished that Radiohead came back to win, after that bump in a sprint.

Just watched it again that was some serious interference,was only horse travelling albeit 10 lengths of the pace and to be stopped and pushed sideways when making his run

Awesome pic of Yeats. I've 'got sucked in to the hype'.

What a champ..great ride as well!

I am going to back him next year as well.

History broken by tellytrack, we watched the race with the betting scrolling from the Vaal, crossed over to the Vaal and then Ripon and Warwick "Jackpots"

Never mind, fantastic feat from Yeats, what a champ and what a shame!

Hope to see what racing is all about with a replay later?

Sorry, as I post a quarter screen of the back of the queens head. change that back to big bens jackpot selections

Well done Yeats.

Wonder what we will do if JJ wins?