Race Report »

Analysis: History was made as YEATS became the first horse ever to win a fourth Gold Cup. They didn't go a serious gallop and Johnny Murtagh had to scrub his mount along rounding the turn into the straight. Once he got to the front, though, he took the race by the scruff of the neck and galloped to victory with only Patkai offering a moderate challenge. The sight of Yeats thundering four lengths clear at the top of the straight was symbolic of all his earlier victories, power was the key, and there are few more powerful horses about. The next question is whether Aidan O'Brien keeps him in training for a possible fifth attempt, or whether he retires to the sheds. He could become one serious National Hunt stallion. Patkai did all he could to get within four lengths but he was always going to be second best. He has youth on his side and could return to win this race one day. The same cannot be said of Geordieland who is the same age of Yeats but was placed once again. He somehow found trouble in the straight and was left with far too much to do.