ROY DAVID will be looking on with a keener eye than most when the horses go down to the post for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next Thursday.

AS racing manager for New Zealand multi-millionaire Michael Watt, David, who lives at Bulwark Road, Deal, will be keeping a close eye on Vinnie Roe and Self Defense, both of which are owned by Watt.

David said: “We are planning a big coup in the Gold Cup. Vinnie Roe is the current 7-2 favourite, and Self Defense is in good form after winning at Longchamp last week.”

David was in Paris to watch Self Defense’s victory and, with Watt having 33 horses in training in various parts of the world, the 55-year-old former racing journalist is constantly on the road.

He said: “At the moment we have 15 horses in Britain, eight in France, seven in Ireland, one in California, and the rest in Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s a big operation and it does mean I lead something of a champagne lifestyle, with helicopter rides to courses, staying in the top hotels, private boxes and so on, but that’s all part of the business.”

David was offered the job as Watt’s racing manager three years ago. He said: ‘Michael has made his millions out of international sports television rights. He owns a major company called Octagon CIS and, because he is always travelling somewhere on business, I basically represent him on the race course."

He added: "I act as the link between Michael and his various trainers, and there’s an awful lot of background and administrative work to do be done."