The 29/1 Willie Mullins double that the bookies fear on Day 1 of Royal Ascot

Willie Mullins after a six-timer at Punchestown

It’s finally here! Royal Ascot has arrived and Tuesday marks Day 1 of Flat racing’s biggest Festival. We’re used to seeing Willie Mullins come over for Britain’s major Jumps meetings to plunder our prize money and he’s had a number of winners at Royal Ascot too.

The bookies will be running in fear of his two runners on Day 1 so we’ve combined them into a double. Mullins has booked Britain’s two best jockeys and that is important to note. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

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5.05 Ascot

My Lyka (5/1, William Hill) was a fair performer on the Flat in France for previous connections. The five-year-old won twice there and only failed to make the frame once in his seven starts. That anomalous performance came in a Group 2 so it can be easily forgiven.

He made his debut for the yard in a Killarney novice hurdle last month and he was beaten by the tiniest of margins. It’s also worth noting that it was his first start for 344 days and he should improve substantially for it.

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6.15 Ascot

Belloccio (4/1, bet365) is perhaps a little more exposed than his stablemate in the earlier race, having had 17 starts on the Flat for David Menuisier before joining Mullins. He was an easy winner of a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on stable debut and that should bring him on nicely for this.

A Listed winner at two and four, connections will be looking to take advantage of the fact that his turf mark is 5lb lower than his all-weather one. This is definitely a competitive affair but if anyone can inspire some improvement, it would be Mullins.

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