Royal Ascot takes place next week and excitement is beginning to build ahead of kick-off on Tuesday. Willie Mullins had another fantastic season over Jumps and pulled away to take the British Trainers’ Championship back to Closutton. He’s not done there however and the Irishman is preparing a small but select squad to tackle Royal Ascot. There’s sure to be plenty of interest in his runners so we’ve picked out his three best chances. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Vauban is a class act across both codes and he was a runaway winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot last year. That was a cracking trial for the Gold Cup and he should have every chance provided the 2m4f trip doesn’t overstretch his stamina.
He made his first start since November in the Yorkshire Cup last month and he’s entitled to improve significantly for the run. Mullins is well aware that Aidan O’Brien’s Kyprios is a tough nut to crack but Vauban has the ability to run a huge race.
Belloccio is a 105-rated Flat horse who made a winning start to his hurdling career at Punchestown recently. His trainer has been very happy with him since and the six-year-old gelding will attempt to make it back-to-back Copper Horse wins for Mullins.
Ethical Diamond was a hard horse to work out in juvenile hurdles but he did run well when a close up sixth in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown in February. He made a more than satisfactory return to the Flat when beaten a nose over 1m2f and the extra two furlongs should suit on that evidence.
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