Willie Mullins includes record-breaking 100-1 winner among eight entries for all-weather Newcastle race
WILLIE MULLINS has included a record-breaking 100-1 winner among his eight entries for a mega-money all-weather race at Newcastle.
The Northumberland Plate is one of the few contests the legendary Irish trainer is yet to claim.
But Closutton boss Mullins looks hellbent on putting that right after entering eight for next month’s £150,000 feature.
Headlining his potentially huge squad for the 2m contest on June 28 is freak Cheltenham Festival winner Poniros.
Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s 100-1 outsider nutted Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba in a thrilling Triumph Hurdle, becoming the biggest-priced winner of the race in the process.
He then finished a four-length second to Lulamba in their Punchestown rematch – but now looks like he could be set for a summer campaign on the Flat.
Poniros is 8-1 joint-fav with James Owen’s Chester Cup winner East Inda Dock, who finished third in that strong Triumph.
Mullins’ next best looks to be 14-1 Ethical Diamond, who could well exploit a rating of 96 on the Flat.
Now a 143-rated hurdler, he was fourth behind Mullins’ Kargese in the County Hurdle having been sent off 16-1 under Patrick Mullins.
The extended 2m trip looks right in range for Ethical Diamond, who is owned by the same people who have former Ebor winner Absurde.
Reaching High, the historic Royal runner owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla, has been given an entry too.
Bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II and out of her beloved Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate, Reaching High will make his debut under Mullins at Leopardstown on Friday.
Staying trips look his game and, while a Royal Ascot run would be an obvious dream, Mullins could delay his big run until Newcastle, where he is 20-1.
Especially as Reaching High was a dominant seven-length winner of a 1m6f race on the Wolverhampton all-weather last summer for previous trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
Mullins also has Too Bossy For Us and £100,000 purchase and recent winner Sober at the 20-1 mark.
While Hipop De Loire, who hasn’t run since finishing fifth in last August’s Ebor, is shorter at 16-1.
Among Mullins’ more unlikely winners are 33-1 chances Charlus and Pappano, who contested some good races on the Flat when trained by John and Thady Gosden.
Mullins was crowned champion British jumps trainer for a second time at Sandown last month.
He had the 1-2-3 in the Grand National, won by 33-1 Nick Rockett, and the 1-2 in the Scottish National.
But he loves targeting the big Flat races over the summer too.
Sober and Absurde have entries in the Ascot Gold Cup and Reaching High could run in the Ascot Stakes.
Speaking of how he came to train an historic first Royal horse in Ireland, Mullins said he was introduced to King Charles at last year’s Royal Ascot.
And speaking of Reaching High, Mullins said: “He could be a contender for the Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half miles on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
“His pedigree is all stamina so those kind of races should suit him.”
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