STRAD HITS HIGH NOTE

STRADIVARIUS strung out his Yorkshire Cup rivals and is now Paddy Power’s 5-2 second favourite for next month’s Ascot Gold Cup.

John Gosden’s St Leger third was sent off the 4-6 hotpot for the Group 2 test and Frankie Dettori (right) travelled with menace before quickening to beat Desert Skyline.

A step up to two and a half miles now beckons for the four-year-old, and Gosden said: “We’ll go for the Gold Cup — but it’s uncharted territory.

“I can’t practise over two and a half miles at home, so will he’ll stay? We’ll find out when they turn for home.

“If you relax and switch off, you’ve got a chance.” Stradivarius will claim the inaugural Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million bonus if he can land the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup back at York in August and Gosden added: “That was the little hurdle — now we’ve got the big hurdle!” RESULTS & PRICES: PAGE 7