O'Brien hopes Yeats can turn French form around

Aidan O’Brien is hoping Yeats can put his poor record in France behind him when he lines up in the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp on Sunday.

The seven-year-old made history back in June when winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for the third time, marking him down as one of the best stayers of all time.

However, he has twice been a beaten odds-on favourite at Longchamp, most recently finishing fifth in the Prix du Cadran, and O’Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can make it third time lucky at the weekend.

“Yeats is in good form but it’s just that maybe the season has been long. We don’t know, but he seems to be in good form at home,” said the trainer.

“People say that he might not handle Longchamp but Johnny (Murtagh) felt he didn’t make enough use of him the last day. Johnny felt that, I’m not saying that’s right, but he wanted him to run here.”

O’Brien also saddles likely pacemaker Mikhail Fokine and Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone.

The latter is tackling this trip for the first time, but O’Brien is confident stamina will not be an issue.

“The filly, you’d imagine looking at her that she might get a mile and six (furlongs) so it will be interesting.”