Yeats is as close as it comes to a popular public horse. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he has won the last three runnings of the Ascot Gold Cup, which makes him the equine version of Manchester United.

Geordieland, on the other hand, is the staying game's everyman, possessing talent and quirks in equal measure.

The problem with this loveable underdog is that he must not be in front until a race is all but over. If left in the lead, he will effectively stop competing. It makes for exciting finishes, but invariably leaves backers and his trainer, Jamie Osborne, spitting feathers of frustration.

Connections hope that it will be a case of third time lucky for the eight-year-old at next month's Royal meeting, having twice finished runner-up to Yeats in the Gold Cup.

But first there is the small matter of his seasonal debut in tomorrow's Yorkshire Cup (2.40).

Geordieland was a brilliant winner of the one-mile six-furlong Group 2 contest 12 months ago, coming with a well-timed run to deny Royal And Regal on the line.

Osborne knows he is fortunate to have such a standard-bearer in a yard that is down on numbers after Lambourn-based property developer Martin Myers, who had interests in 15 horses with him, saw his Mountgrange Stud operation go into administration in March.

"Thankfully old Geordieland is still here. He is now owned by Tony Taylor, who bought out Martin Myers's 25 per cent share," said Osborne.

"His preparation has gone very well. The Yorkshire Cup has been the planned starting point for a long time and I'm happy with him. He's done the same amount of work that he did when he won it last year."

Osborne, who rents Kingdown Stables from Myers, is known for his success with speedy two-year-olds, but said: "That model is non-applicable in the current market. We are a yard that specialises in trading more than anything, but we will adapt and move on.

"In the current climate, a lot of my owners have been hit relatively hard, so it is not a period of expansion. It is all about consolidation and surviving the choppy waters.

"Numerically, we are way down on our two-year-olds this year and the ones we have are not particularly forward, but I'm confident that we will have an alright season."

Osborne is hopeful that Geordieland can provide some welcome cheer. "We hope to have Geordieland competing at a decent level and that he'll fly the flag," he said.

"The public perception is that Geordieland will make or break our season, so the Yorkshire Cup is important. It would be nice to think we can win it before we go and have another crack at Yeats and Co."