This race revolves around Yeats, who has the chance to become the first four-time winner in the race's 202-year history at the age of eight.

If only we knew he was as good now as when trouncing Geordieland by five lengths for a record-equalling third Gold Cup, we'd all be lumping on at the current 9/4 (general). We'll only find out for certain at around 3.50 on Thursday, but his lacklustre reappearance at Navan was perhaps a sign that age was catching up with him, and in my reckoning he'll have to be just as good this year to see off some younger, in-form rivals.

The degree of difficulty facing him is evident in the betting. His last two Gold Cups were landed at odds of 13/8 on and 11/8, yet there is no shortage of 9/4 about for him this week. Of course, that price might turn out to be a steal and it's worth noting that he was equally unimpressive in the same prep race at Navan last year, but that didn't stop recording his widest margin of success in this race. Still, my gut feeling is to oppose him, and the one that takes the eye is VERACITY at a tasty 13/2 with Coral.

Trained by Godolphin, who used to farm this race before Yeats came along, Veracity has always been a good horse. As a Michael Jarvis-trained three-year-old, he finished runner-up in the Queen's Vase at this meeting and Goodwood Cup, before running fifth in the St Leger behind Lucarno. Under Godolphin, he's hardly gone backwards, with arguably his best efforts coming in his most recent starts.

After showing battling qualities to win the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket last October, he ran a cracker just eight days later when third to Yeats at Longchamp, beaten only a length-and-three-quarters. In February he won a valuable 2m handicap in Dubai, and then was a good third to Ask in the Yorkshire Cup over an inadequate 1m6f and on unsuitable soft ground. That will have put him spot on for this and, unlike some of his rivals, he's a certain stayer who will relish every yard of the 2m4f Gold Cup trip.

Whereas Yeats flopped on his reappearance, his old rival Geordieland (16/5 Sportingbet) put up a career-best performance on his return when beating Paktai (3/1 Ladbrokes) fair and square in the Henry II Stakes. That was over 2m, though, and I've feeling this trip just stretches his stamina to the limit, while he's no certainty no confirm the form with Paktai, whose connections are sure to try something different here after appearing to make a race-winning move early in the straight at Sandown.

Recommended Bet:

Veracity 2pts @ 13/2 Coral