Willie Mullins celebrates Royal Ascot winner with big chances still to come

Willie Mullins was responsible for the only Irish-trained winner on day one of Royal Ascot – and there could be more success to come for the Closutton maestro as the week goes on.

The Copper Horse Handicap brought day one of the Royal meeting to a close and having struck gold with Vauban in last year’s renewal, Mullins doubled up with Belloccio at 4-1.

Formerly trained on the Flat by David Menuisier, the grey made a successful debut over hurdles at Punchestown last month and was among the leading contenders on his return to the level.

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William Buick produced his mount with a sustained challenge from the home turn and he eventually ran down Lmay to score by a length and a quarter, with My Mate Mozzie just a short head behind in third.

“He didn’t jump out as fast as I hoped he would, but William [Buick, jockey] got him into a nice position and he didn’t panic,” said Mullins.

“He waited until the race began to start and delivered him with a perfect run.

“This fella will probably go to the Ebor and I imagine we’ll try to get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup; that would be the long-term aim.

“He’s in the race here on Saturday [the Queen Alexandra Stakes], but we won’t make any decisions on this weekend until we see how he comes out of the race.”

Mullins has a number of other potential runners at Ascot this week, with Vauban set to be partnered by Colin Keane in the Group 1 Gold Cup on Thursday. However, Kyprios looks the horse they all have to beat in the 2m4f contest.

Aidan O’Brien’s stayer is one of the hottest favourites of the week in the marathon event, a race he won in 2022 to kickstart a run of four successive Group One victories.

He sustained an injury early last season which kept him off the track until the Irish St Leger in September, when he finished second before being narrowly beaten in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day.

O’Brien has been thrilled to have an uninterrupted start to this campaign, with Kyprios winning the Vintage Crop Stakes and Saval Beg already.

John and Thady Gosden’s Gregory is seen as his main threat. Winner of the Queen’s Vase last year, he has stepped into the breach to fill the void left by injured stablemate Courage Mon Ami, winner of the race 12 months ago.

The Gosdens also run Trawlerman, who beat Kyprios on Champions Day and Sweet William.

Mullins has yet to win the Gold Cup and having dominated the National Hunt scene for years, it is an itch he would love to scratch with Vauban.

A Triumph Hurdle winner, he landed a handicap at this meeting 12 months ago before an unsuccessful run in the Melbourne Cup.

Coltrane, Enemy, Prydwen, Trueshan and the mare Caius Chorister complete the field.

Meanwhile, Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Ethical Diamond for Mullins in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes on Friday.

The ex-Michael William O’Meara-trained four-year-old failed to win over hurdles in his juvenile campaign, but was a winner on the flat for his former trainer and went down by just a nose back on the level at Leopardstown last month when beaten by the Jessica Harrington-trained 9/4 favourite Saturn.

He is the current 4/1 favourite for the 1m4f contest on Friday. Mullins also has a number of potential runners in the Queen Alexandra Stakes on Saturday.

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