Weekend return for Gold star Yeats

Triple Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats is all set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on Sunday.

Aidan O’Brien has used the race named in honour of one of Ireland’s most famous racehorses as a starting point for the last two seasons – and the ploy has proved successful both times.

Now an eight-year-old, his campaign will be built around winning the Gold Cup for an unprecedented fourth time.

“The plan is to start Yeats off on Sunday,” O’Brien told www.racingpost.com.

“He started in this race in the past and I’m happy with him and he’s ready to start off again.”

Michael Bell has entered The Betchworth Kid after a fine run on his comeback behind Fiulin at Nottingham. The Newmarket trainer’s runner has a preference for soft ground.

“We’re keen to go there if the underfoot conditions look like being in his favour but obviously we have a lot of respect for the old star Yeats,” said Bell.

“(But) if ever he is going to be vulnerable it will be first time up and he didn’t win by far last year.

“We are keen to go, the track and the ground should suit him, hopefully.

“I was pleased with his last run, he was a lot closer to Fiulin than he was last season so he has definitely trained on.

“He’s been an excellent horse for Henry Ponsonby and his enthusiastic band of owners.

“This race will tell us where we go for the rest of the season probably, he’s a very, very decent stayer in soft ground.”

David Nicholls’ former O’Brien inmate Hindu Kush is also among the 12 entrants, while Curragh specialist Baron De’l will bid to land another Listed race for Eddie Harty.

Baron De’l has won six times over 10 furlongs at the Curragh and is without a win away from Irish racing’s Headquarters.

“I just wish it was over 10 furlongs at the Curragh!” said Harty. “We are going there because I want to take him for the Wolferton at Royal Ascot and it would have been too long without a run from April 4 to the third week in June.

“The trip is not ideal for him but he has had a winter over hurdles so it is not unfair on him.

“Rather than disappoint the horse I’d prefer to give him a run somewhere and he gets all the allowances.

“He’s very well and I’d prefer to give him a run than keep him on the boil until June.

“I didn’t think he’d ever be running against Yeats but there is nothing else for him.”