Geordielands the big one at Knavesmire

11:40am Saturday 17th May 2008

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GEORDIELAND finally shed his bridesmaid's tag to win the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup at York Racecourse - but it was by the narrowest of margins, writes Steve Carroll.

The seven-year-old, second to Sergeant Cecil in the race last year, was a perennial runner-up last season and had not won in nearly two years for trainer Jamie Osborne. That looked like remaining the case a furlong out with Royal And Regal (3-1), who had made most of the running in the one mile six furlong contest, half a dozen furlongs ahead.

Geordieland (13-2) swallowed up the gap with a superb late run under Shane Kelly but it still took a photograph to split the two horses.

Osborne said: "It's just a huge relief - for him to actually win one of these is just fantastic."