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Coolmore domination to continue at Royal Ascot on Thursday

By Matt | June 18, 2008

COOLMORE’S domination of Royal Ascot 2008 is expected to continue on Thursday, with Yeats tipped to win the Ascot Gold Cup ahead of rival Geordieland.

The Irish horse can get his Gold Cup hat-trick ahead of France’s Coastal Path and Yorkshire Cup winner – and last year’s Gold Cup runner-up – Geordieland.

Johnny Murtagh has ridden home the big-race winner on the first two days of this year’s Royal Ascot, and Aiden O’Brien’s yard looks to be on absolutely top form for his Coolmore owners.

On pace and stamina over the two-and-a-half mile course, Geordieland should have a claim in this race – but he has continually frustrated punters and if the Yorkshire Cup were run again I would lay it to lose every time.

For me, the only question to be answered is regards staking and, after a poor first day overall and a bad tip in today’s racing – and given Yeats’ heavy favouritism for the race – I’m all for raising my stakes.

Furthermore, I don’t want to see a repeat of today’s Prince of Wales Stakes, where Duke of Marmalade was available at 13/8 yesterday and was sent off at even money as the big betting firms laid off their shop liabilities.

Therefore I’m going for 10 points at the current best price available, which is 7/5 at Paddy Power.

* Punters objecting to a tip at such a short price might prefer my next-best, which is Dr Faustus in the Hampton Court Stakes (16:55) – currently generally available at 9/2.

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