Yeats may be aimed at Golden four timer

Yeats could be given the chance to notch up a record-breaking fourth victory in the Ascot Gold Cup with connections yet to decide his future following his third win in the stayers' event.

Aidan O'Brien's seven-year-old became just the second horse to land three Gold Cups when scoring as the 11-8 favourite under Johnny Murtagh, matching the achievements of Sagaro in 1975-77.

The market leader swung for home matching strides with market rival Coastal Path, just ahead of last year's runner-up Geordieland.

William Hill make Yeats a 3-1 chance to lift a fourth title, and O'Brien said: 'I don't know when the time will come to preserve his genes and that is the reality as we've never had a horse with as big a pair of lungs and as big a heart as he has - they are physical things.

'There is a chance he could go back to Australia for the Melbourne Cup this year. We'll have to discuss the options but all of the staying races are open to him.'

Owner John Magnier added: 'We set out to try and win the three Gold Cups and have done that now. We'll have a discussion with everyone at the end of the year about his future and see what is the right thing to do for the horse.

'He will be eight next year, so it will be like a grandad getting married so I really don't know, but he was more impressive than he has been any other day.'

O'Brien, winning his fourth Group One of the week, was stunned after the two-and-a-half-mile event.

He said: 'I can't put into words what this means.

'The lads at home did a great job 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.

'He's a great mover with massive lungs and a massive heart.

'He is not just a staying horse as he had the class to win a Coronation Cup.'

Geordieland's trainer Jamie Osborne said: 'He's run a great race again, coming away being beaten by a better horse at this trip.

'We might drop him back to a mile and a half for a shot at the King George as he has so much class it might be worth a try.'

Andre Fabre, trainer of Coastal Path, said: 'That was one of Yeats' most impressive performances.'