PartialLogo
Royal Ascot

Winning combination: Mullins and Moore team up again in Ascot Stakes

Willie Mullins sending five to Royal Ascot
Willie Mullins sending five to Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ryan Moore, who has been on board for five of Willie Mullins' six Royal Ascot winners, is booked to ride Buildmeupbuttercup for Ireland's champion jumps trainer in the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday.

Mullins has sent out four winners in the 2m4f handicap, with Moore successful aboard Simenon, who provided the trainer with his first Royal Ascot victory in 2012, Clondaw Warrior in 2015 and Thomas Hobson in 2017.

Speaking on Saturday, Mullins, who won the race with the Andrea Atzeni-ridden Lagostovegas last year, said: "The Ascot Stakes has been a lucky race for us. Ryan rides Buildmeupbuttercup and Nessun Dorma will run in the same race."

Buildmeupbuttercup won two bumpers before joining Mullins and is available at 13-2 for the Ascot Stakes, which will be the five-year-old's first run on the Flat for the Closutton master.

Buildmeupbuttercup: will be having her first Flat run for Willie Mullins at Ascot
Buildmeupbuttercup: will be having her first Flat run for Willie Mullins at AscotCredit: Patrick McCann

Outlining other plans for Ascot, Mullins said: "Riven Light, who lost out by only a short head on his reappearance at the Curragh recently, will run in the Wolferton Stakes on Tuesday.

"Thomas Hobson, who ran second in a Group 2 in Germany last month on his first start of the year, will take his chance in the Gold Cup, while Max Dynamite is an intended runner in the Queen Alexandra Stakes on Saturday."

Mullins has twice won the Queen Alexandra – the race that closes the royal meeting – scoring with Simenon, who followed up his Ascot Stakes win in 2012, and Pique Sous, who was successful in 2014.

Max Dynamite, who ran second to Thomas Hobson in theDoncaster Cup last season, will be having his first run since October. The nine-year-old has twice been placed in the Melbourne Cup, finishing second in 2015 and third in 2017.


Not a member? Sign up here


Racing Post Reporter

Published on inRoyal Ascot

Last updated

iconCopy