CELERIC climbed another rung up the staying ladder as he triumphed in a nailbiting conclusion to the £70,000-added Yorkshire Cup at York yesterday. He set himself up for a tilt at the Gold Cup as a £200,000 plus gamble on Classic Cliche went badly astray when last year's winner finished last.

Produced with his customary late burst by Pat Eddery, Celeric hit the front in the final 100 yards and hung on by a short head from the rallying Mons. Whitewater Affair was third.

There was a sting in the tail for Eddery who was handed a two day ban (May 26th and 27th) for misuse of the whip. He misses the Brigadier Gerard Stakes meeting at Sandown.

Whether Classic Cliche tries to win the Gold Cup for the second year in a row must be open to doubt. Massive support including wagers of £24,000 to win £33,000 and £20,000 to win £25,000 saw the price of the Godolphin horse contract to evens from 15 to 8.

But, after making the running under Frankie Dettori, he faded badly in the straight to finished a tailed off last, beaten 28 lengths.

Several Godolphin horses have performed poorly in recent weeks and racing manager Simon Crisford said: "There's obviously a problem with our horses but what it is I don't know. Frankie said he went out like a light."