JOHNNY MURTAGH believes Ascot will bring the best out of Yeats as he bids for a historic fourth Gold Cup today.

Aidan O’Brien’s exceptional eight-year-old has already won three successive Ascot Gold Cups, but in the 202-year history of the Group One showpiece no horse has secured a fourth victory.

But in a yard full of superstars at Ballydoyle Yeats is clearly unique. Good enough to be the winter Derby favourite before injury ruled him out of the Epsom Classic, the son of Sadler’s Wells landed the Coronation Cup a year later before his hat-trick of Gold Cups which equalled Sagaro’s record.

But he is now an eight-year-old and no horse since Merman in 1900 has won the race at such advanced age. While Yeats also has to put behind him his disappointing seasonal reappearance when he trailed home in sixth behind Alandi in the Vintage Crop Stakes – a race he won before both his last two Ascot successes.

He has, though, been trained to peak this afternoon at his spiritual home. Back on a better surface Murtagh – who rode him last year – is confident he will be at his best. The Irish jockey, who has three winners so far at this year’s meeting, said: “Ascot is the place where he shines most brightly. He is in great shape and is coming here to defend his title. Seamus (Heffernan) rides him in a lot of his work at home and he says he has definitely come forward since Navan.

“He comes alive at Ascot. Fast ground, two and a half miles, a big crowd, a big day all play to his strengths. He is like myself he really comes alive on the big day.

“He’s in good form and he obviously knows Ascot well. we’re hoping he can do it again. No horse has won the Gold Cup four times so it would be something special if he can do it and that’s what Royal Ascot is all about. Special things happen there.”

GOLD CUP FACT: Only two horses have won the Ascot Gold Cup aged eight or over since it was first run in 1807. The nine-year-old Bees Wing in 1922 and eight-year-old Merman in 1900.