Marienbard can follow Kayf Tara and give Godolphin their fourth Gold Cup success in the last six years with victory in the Group One showpiece at Royal Ascot today.

The four-year-old may be unproven over two and a half miles, but connections are confident that he will stay every yard of the stamina-sapping trip. And he will need to if he is to come out on top in the £210,000 event.

But Marienbard is the class horse of the race and Godolphin hope he is the successor in the staying department to Kayf Tara, who took this race in 1998 and 2000.

Sheikh Mohammed's operation, who first struck Gold with Classic Cliche in 1996, bought Marienbard out of Michael Jarvis' yard at the end of last season.

A late developer, Jarvis coaxed Marienbard from Leicester maiden winner on his debut to Listed winner and a St Leger contender in a matter of weeks last summer.

Although only sixth in the Doncaster Classic, he was runner-up in two Group races last autumn. And he has already repaid some of the cash and confidence in him by taking last month's Group Three Yorkshire Cup.

It was his stamina that saw him win the day over that mile and three-quarters by a length from Samsaam with Eternal Spring another five lengths away third.

He gave the impression that he would be suited by further, but it is a gamble stepping up an extra six furlongs for his next race.

His main market rival is San Sebastian and he looks like providing the main opposition. Twice a Royal Ascot winner, he was an unlucky fourth in last year's Gold Cup, being hampered by Kayf Tara about a furlong out.

He would not have won, but he gained handsome compensation when beating Persian Punch in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp.

The Group Two Cork & Orrery Stakes can go to Primo Valentino His win in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket showed that he had lost none of his dash as he made all in the 23-runner Listed race to beat Fath by a length and a quarter.