Royal Ascot beckons for Al Muffrih after gritty success in Zetland Gold Cup

Royal Ascot beckons for Al Muffrih after the lightly raced four-year-old justified 6-4 favouritism to land the £45,000 1m2f Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup.

Partnered by Danny Tudhope, who teamed up with winning trainer William Haggas to win the feature race at York on Saturday, Al Muffrih gained his second win on just his fifth start and is now likely to head for next month's Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The winner, who runs in the colours of Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, had finished a fine fifth in a hot Newmarket handicap on his reappearance despite having gone to post very freely.