KING CHARLES’ big Royal Ascot runner has been SMASHED in the betting – after Willie Mullins booked the ‘world’s best jockey’ for the £57,000 ride.
Four-year-old gelding Reaching High has already made history after becoming the first horse owned by a reigning monarch to be trained in Ireland.
Willie Mullins has booked Ryan Moore to ride King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Royal Ascot horse Reaching High in the Ascot Stakes[/caption]
The King and Queen will be desperate for a winner at the Royal meeting[/caption]
Ryan Moore, the man many regard as the best jockey in the world, has been booked for the big ride on Reaching High[/caption]
He was beaten a short-head on his first run for Mullins at Leopardstown in May over just 1m4f.
The Ascot Stakes, to be run at 5pm on Tuesday, is over a mile further, so Reaching High’s stamina will be massively tested.
But if anyone can get him ready then it’s Mullins – and the jockey booking is a big help too.
Mullins – who’s also signed ‘one of the most talented jockeys around’ for two more big rides on day one – and King Charles have pulled some strings and got Ryan Moore, who’s been crowned world’s best jockey four times.
Moore rode Estimate to Ascot Gold Cup glory for the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013.
And he is in awesome form this year, winning the Oaks and Coronation Cup at Epsom last weekend as well a whole host of other Group 1s.
Layers at Ladbrokes rushed to cut Reaching High’s odds for the Ascot Stakes, where victory is worth a shade under £57,000.
He was 10-1 before the Moore jockey booking became public news and is now into just 6-1.
The firm’s Cal Gildart said: “With Ryan Moore’s two Epsom Group 1 victories fresh in the mind, Reaching High’s Ascot Stakes odds almost halved on the news of his booking.
“Punters are clearly high on the King and Queen’s horse, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go off as favourite.”
Speaking previously of his delight to train a Royal runner, Grand National-winning trainer Mullins said: “It’s an honour and a big surprise to be asked.
“It’s nice to have a horse in that position and it’s very exciting.
“I’m probably looking at the two-and-a-half-mile race (Ascot Stakes) but we’ll look at both staying races on the first day.
“When you look at his pedigree, it’s all stamina. He seems to stay very well.”
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