Seven year old joins Sagaro as only treble Gold Cup winner

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Yeats (Sadler's Wells - Lyndonville, by Top Ville) won the Ascot Gold Cup for the third time on Thursday, beating Yorkshire Cup winner Geordieland by five lengths. French raider Coastal Path was third having failed to stay. The win is Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh's fourth Group One of the week.

Le Miracle had led in the early stages of the 2m 4f contest, with Coastal Path in third and Yeats in fifth, both on the outside. Travelling up the hill from Swinley Bottom Yeats made a move to come alongside Coastal Path , and the pair went to the lead 4f out, tracked by Geordieland.

Turning for home Yeats and Coastal Path matched strides, but suddenly Yeats was being ridden along as Coastal Path travelled easily. Geordieland drew alongside Yeats, but the winner's satmina came into play at this point as Coastal Path emptied and went backwards and Yeats rallied, drawing clear in the final furlong and a half to an emphatic, and historic, win.

O'Brien told the BBC: "It's unbelievable and I didn't really think it would happen. The lads did a great job at home to get him here for one Gold Cup and then he came back for a second one and now a third one - it's unbelievable.

"It's down to a lot of hard work from a lot of people and Johnny gave him a wonderful ride. He got him into a great rhythm before letting him go and his timing was perfect."