The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group 1 race for four-year-olds and above run over 2m4f.
 
Last 10 Winners:

• 10/10 were male
• 10/10 (last 14) were aged between four and six
• 9/10 had a run to their name that season
• 7/10 had already won that season
• 7/10 had already won a Group race over 1m6f
 
Contenders (best prices):
Yeats (Boylesports 6/4) goes for his hat-trick and started last season, as last, by winning the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan back in April, albeit less impressively. He sets an excellent marker that his rivals have to improve past. Now that his stablemate Septimus will miss the race (not wanting to spoil the party), the main challenge comes from across the Channel in the shape of Coastal Path (5/2 Ladbrokes). The four-year-old is unbeaten in six starts to date, the last four of them in Group company, and has already achieved a similar level of form to his half-brother Reefscape, who was second to Yeats in this race in 2006.
 
Geordieland (10/1 VCbet) finally consented to win his first race in Britain in the Yorkshire Cup last time and has a massive chance of being in the frame. Godolphin have a good record in this race and their Sagara (16/1 William Hill), purchased after his 33/1 third in the Arc, looks the type to develop into a Cup horse. Michael Stoute’s Allegretto (20/1 totesport) finished last in the Henry II Stakes last time but that’s excusable as she tired in the testing ground on her seasonal debut.
 
Verdict:
Coastal Path can deny Yeats a hat-trick of Gold Cup wins. True, he’s had little to beat in two runs this season, but his 1m7f Longchamp win from Noble Prince and Royal And Regal last backend has been well-advertised by the third home since. Tactically versatile, he can make the running if need be and will hopefully be given a better ride than his half brother Reefscape, runner-up in this race two years ago after taking the scenic route! Geordieland has an aversion to hitting the front but must be a certainty to get placed as he stays and will act on likely fast ground.
 
Recommended Bets:
 
Coastal Path 3pts @ 5/2 Ladbrokes
Geordieland 1pt each way @ 10/1 VCbet