Yeats joins the greats with third straight Ascot Gold Cup victory

Tabor, part of the Coolmore Stud syndicate who have dominated the meeting along with their trainer Aidan O'Brien, ironically does not have a share in Yeats but is understood to have combined the 11-8 winner with O'Brien's Henrythenavigator, successful in Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes, and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Duke Of Marmalade in doubles and trebles.

Johnny Murtagh celebrates winning the Gold Cup on Yeats, the Aidan O'Brien horse winning a third Gold Cup in succession at Royal Ascot

Yeats thrilled Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot with an emotional and historic third Gold Cup victory that landed Michael Tabor a seven-figure coup.

Tabor, part of the Coolmore Stud syndicate who have dominated the meeting along with their trainer Aidan O'Brien, ironically does not have a share in Yeats but is understood to have combined the 11-8 winner with O'Brien's Henrythenavigator, successful in Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes, and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Duke Of Marmalade in doubles and trebles.

Tabor said: 'We couldn't have asked for more. You hope to win a couple because you've got the shots but don't think you can win the lot.'

On an afternoon when the punters struck back after two miserable days with four out of six winning favourites, Yeats produced the biggest cheer of the week from the 71,130 crowd as he became only the second horse to win the race for a third successive season, following Sagaro in 1975-77.

The Group One victory was an unprecedented fourth of the meeting at that level for O'Brien.

Before yesterday's race, Yeats appeared to face his stiffest threats from unbeaten French challenger Coastal Path and the enigmatic Geordieland, the 2007 runner-up. That's how it turned out.

Ridden for the first time by Johnny Murtagh, Yeats locked horns with Coastal Path four furlongs out and had beaten him off by the two-furlong pole.

Immediately Shane Kelly, expected to launch Geordieland as late as possible, appeared forced to play his hand and for a few strides looked dangerous but it was all over by the furlong pole as Yeats pulled five lengths clear.

O'Brien said: 'I can't put it into words. When he won one Gold Cup, I couldn't believe it but then to come back and win another and another is unbelievable.

'He is moving great and never pulled out like an old horse. He is still very fresh.'

Will he chase a unique fourth victory in the two-and-a-half mile contest or be retired to stud?

Coolmore's John Magnier refused to be drawn - 'He'll be eight next year so it would be like grandad getting married' - but his coowner David Nagle maybe gave the game away when, answering a congratulatory phone call, he responded: 'Line up those mares.'

Not that the opposition will be sorry to see the back of him.

'I don't know how you beat him - tie two of his legs together maybe,' said Kelly.

Geordieland could be back at Ascot next month, with his trainer Jamie Osborne contemplating a shot at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

RESULT: Ascot Gold Cup  (2m 4f)

1 Yeats (Johnny Murtagh) 11-8f

2 Geordieland (Shane Kelly) 15-2

3 Coastal Path (S Pasquier) 2-1

10 ran. (A P O'Brien). 5, 41/2.

Tote: £2.40; £1.10, £1.80, £1.20. Ex: £7.90. CSF: £11.87. Tricast: £20.93. NR: Baddam.