Pappano bidding to give Mullins another major prize

Fresh from further success at Royal Ascot, Willie Mullins takes aim at another major Flat prize in Britain this weekend as Pappano lines up for the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The master of Closutton claimed his 11th and 12th winners at the Royal meeting last week, with Ethical Diamond striking gold in the Duke of Edinburgh before Sober laughed at his rivals in the traditional finale, the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

Pappano, a talented Flat performer for John and Thady Gosden before changing hands for 200,000 guineas last October, was pulled up on his stable debut in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but must be considered a major contender for the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ at Gosforth Park on Saturday.

“Obviously he had his first run for us in the Triumph, but looking back at his Flat form in England it looks like most of his best form is on the all-weather,” said Mullins’ assistant, David Casey.

“He got balloted out of the Copper Horse in Ascot last week and this was the next step for him.

“I think the trip will suit and hopefully he’ll run a good race.”

While Pappano missed Royal Ascot, James Owen’s East India Dock was not disgraced when attempting to follow up his Chester Cup success in the Ascot Stakes.

The Triumph Hurdle third was beaten less than two lengths when sixth to Henry de Bromhead’s Ascending with his Newmarket handler happy to return to the well only 11 days later.

“He’s come out of Ascot really well and I thought he ran a cracker there, he wasn’t beaten far at all and we were really pleased with his run,” said Owen.

“As I say he’s come out of it well and he’ll be having a break soon before he goes back jumping, so it’s worth another roll of the dice.”

Brian Ellison’s defending champion Onesmoothoperator has been travelling the globe since landing his locally born handler the race he cherishes most of all 12 months ago.

A winner of the Geelong Cup in Australia during the winter before running respectably in the Melbourne Cup, he has most recently been campaigned in Dubai and will now carry the burden of top-weight for his Tyneside return.

“He’s in great form, obviously he’s 12lb higher and has top-weight, but I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Ellison.

“We gave him a good break after Dubai and the plan was just to come straight here.

“He gets dropped in, so it doesn’t matter where he’s drawn and he’s a superstar. He’s definitely improving and has definitely got better and his work has been brilliant.

“It would be fantastic if he could do it again, we’ll see.”

Also returning for another crack at the Newcastle feature is Thomas Faulkner’s Golden Rules who went agonisingly close in 2023 and after a spell on the sidelines since then, heads back to the north east following a Kempton tune-up which is the same route connections followed two years ago.

Faulkner said: “We are hoping for a good run. He is very fit and well and we couldn’t be happier with him. We are just hoping for a little more luck this year than we had in 2023.”