Yeats leads Gold Cup contenders

Yeats will face 10 rivals when he seeks a third successive victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

Aidan O’Brien’s star will be the only Ballydoyle representative as O’Brien elected not to declare stablemates Septimus and Honolulu.

Yeats will face a stern examination from Andre Fabre’s unbeaten Coastal Path, while last year’s runner-up and recent Yorkshire Cup winner Geordieland will also be in opposition.

Godolphin, whose blue silks were carried to victory in the race by Classic Cliche in 1996, Kayf Tara in 1998 and 2000, and Papineau in 2004, will be represented by Regal Flush and Sagara.

Allegretto, Baddam, Diamond Quest and Henry II Stakes hero Finalmente all run, while the German-trained Le Miracle and South Africa’s Thundering Star add further foreign interest.