Vinnie Roe third as Gold Cup goes West

VINNIE ROE finished a brave third for Ireland as Anglo-French relations enjoyed a notable boost in the betting ring at Royal Ascot at York yesterday as 7-4 favourite Westerner ran out an impressive winner of the Gold Cup.

French-trained horses took their third race of the Royal Ascot meeting - their best tally for over a decade - as Olivier Peslier brought the well-supported winner home to beat Distinction by a neck.

The Elie Lellouche-trained six-year-old travelled powerfully up the straight and was produced to perfection to lead inside the final furlong and edge out the 33-1 runner-up.