J.J. now firm fav for Golden Jubilee

Ascot Gold Cup fancy Geordieland delighted connections in his first workout since winning the Henry II Stakes.

Jamie Osborne is very happy with the grey, who has finished second to Yeats in the Royal showpiece for the last two years, and his concerns about running the eight-year-old in the Sandown Group Two before going for Gold again have eased.

"Obviously we missed the Yorkshire Cup and the reason why the Henry II was never our first plan was because of its proximity to Ascot," said the Upper Lambourn-based handler.

"My heart was a little bit in my mouth but I have to say I'd be fairly confident the race hadn't left its mark.

"He did his first proper bit of work since Sandown this morning and it was as good as I've ever seen him work.

"I just hope they don't get too much rain - the bits I can control I'm happy about. If ever there's a place that can take rain it's Ascot.

"I'm very happy. My fears about Sandown being too close to Ascot have just eroded gradually over the last week or so and it is no longer a concern.

"He'll do one more gallop before the race but he's pretty much there now.

"He's been second in the Gold Cup twice before and hasn't got that much to find."