Majestic Mullins registers a 1-3-4-5 as Lagostovegas gives him a fourth victory

Not for the first time in his career Willie Mullins, Ireland's 12-time champion jumps trainer, showed he is a man for all seasons when he secured a sixth Royal Ascot success courtesy of Lagostovegas in the Ascot Stakes.

The 10-1 shot, who finished third in the Cesarewitch last season, became the trainer's fourth winner of the 2m4f handicap and it was an Ascot Stakes win with a difference for Mullins, with Andrea Atzeni riding the winner and Ryan Moore – who had partnered the three previous Mullins winners of the race – finishing fourth on stablemate Chelkar.

After the race, Mullins admitted he initially had other plans for Lagostovegas and Royal Ascot wasn't among them.

"I rang the mare's owner John Donohue and told him we should aim for the Northumberland Plate as I was worried she mightn't get the two and a half miles here," he said.

"John told me that his wife and daughters were out buying their Ascot outfits and that the mare was going to run here and that he'd see me at Ascot on Tuesday."

Lagostovegas, who was hooded for the first time, won by a length from Dubawi Fifty, who made a brave attempt to make all, with the winner's stablemates Stratum, Chelkar and Whiskey Sour filling the next three places.

"Lagostovegas stayed a lot better than I thought she would and she seems to love that ground," continued Mullins.

"This race and the Queen Alexandra on Saturday are the two races we target every year – it keeps us busy during the summer. Hopefully one of these horses will turn into Melbourne Cup horses, or the Ebor – the prize-money there is fantastic."

The odds about Lagostovegas for the Stobart Rail & Civils Northumberland Plate a week on Saturday vary from 7-1 to 16-1, while Dubawi Fifty also shortened up with some firms, with a not dissimilar range of opinion.

Lagostovegas (Andrea Atzeni): wins the Ascot Stakes to give trainer Willie Mullins a 1-3-4 in the raceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Of the five horses Mullins ran, only Lagostovegas is not entered for the Queen Alexandra Stakes this Saturday.

"We'll see how the other four come out of the race," said the trainer. "Stratum and Whiskey Sour both stayed on quite well, as did Chelkar, who raced very keenly having been off the track for a long time."

Result, replay and analysis

JUMPS TRAINERS' DOMINANCE IN THE ASCOT STAKES

Year | Winner | Trainer

2018 Lagostovegas Willie Mullins
2017 Thomas Hobson Willie Mullins
2016 Jennies Jewel Jarlath Fahey
2015 Clondaw Warrior Willie Mullins
2014 Domination Charles Byrnes
2013 Well Sharp Jonjo O'Neill
2012 Simenon Willie Mullins
2011 Veiled Nicky Henderson
2010 Junior David Pipe

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