A race for traditionalists to savour, and a result worthy of the occasion, with YEATS, who has done so much to restore the Gold Cup's prestige, emulating the great stayer Sagaro, who completed his hat-trick of Gold Cup wins in the 1970s.

At seven years of age Yeats looked more vulnerable than ever, reopposed by last year's closest pursuers Geordieland, Le Miracle and Finalmente, as well as the unbeaten French staying star Coastal Path, who carried considerable confidence, last year's Goodwood Cup and Prix Royal-Oak winner Allegretto, and the Arc third Sagara. He had not been impressive on his reappearance at Navan, but yet again he rose to the occasion and put up a superb performance.

The pace set by Le Miracle was far from strong, and that mayhave contributed to Coastal Path's comprehensive defeat, but Yeats was always comfortable in a handy position and when Coastal Path took over from Le Miracle over four furlongs out he went with him. The pair committed a long way out and turned for home acouple of lengths clear, but Geordieland had covered their move with ease and looked a massive danger going to two furlongs out. The three were in line abreast briefly, wth the rest trailing way behind, and at that point one might have said Yeats looked the least likely winner. However, Coastal Path cracked just inside the two-furlong marker, and although it was touch and go to begin with Yeats gradually asserted his superiority over Geordieland and was on top before the furlong marker.

Showing his class as he came clear inside the last, Yeats scored by his widest margin yet in the race. He will be eight next year, and it is asking a lot of him to come back yet again, especially as he is still an entire, but William Hill offer only 3-1 about him winning a fourth Gold Cup. His stablemate Septimus is currently probably the main threat to his supremacy, for other possible successors are few and far between at present.

Geordieland is a different horse this year after his first proper holiday, and following his last strides win at York Jamie Osborne was on record saying he would not be ridden with such exaggerated waiting tactics this time. True to Osborne's word, Geordieland was third into the straight, going every bit as well as the two leaders, and when he challenged on the outside fully two furlongs out he looked initially as if he might prevail. There was some criticism of Shane Kelly afterwards for not waiting longer, but Geordieland did not jack it in. He battled this time, and there was no disgrace in being beaten by one of the very best stayers of modern times. Interestingly Osborne intends running Geordieland in the King George next, and while one could not fancy him to win he will not be disgraced. He certainly isn't a slow horse, and it could cut up.

Allegretto did not get home in headgear last year, but she was ridden more patiently this time - held up in last and still there goinginto the final turn - and stayed on from an impossible position to get the best of a good battle for a remote fourth.

Sagara left his dismal reappearance effort at Goodwood behind with a better effort in fifth, but this was obviously not the true form of a horse capable of finishing third in the Arc.

Stablemate Regal Flush, fourth in the St Leger when with Sir Michael Stoute, was a moderate sixth, ahead of former South African Grade 1 winner Thundering Star, who was tried in cheekpieces here, and miles clear of the latter's former compatriot Diamond Quest, who moved into fourth rounding the home turn but had been too keen to give himself a proper chance of staying.

Long-time leader Le Miracle, and Finalmente, who had chased him for much of the way, both dropped right out, Finalmente looking to suffer a rough passage when weakening rounding the home turn. [GD]

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