FRESH from securing some of the choicest lots at this week’s Goffs Arkle Sale, Willie Mullins is bound for Royal Ascot next week where he has a strong chance of adding to his 11 winners at the meeting.

Ethical Diamond and Sober gave the champion jumps trainer two winners at last year’s Royal fixture. The former is set to return to Ascot next Saturday for the Hardwicke Stakes, a race which could also attract his old rival Rebel’s Romance, Goliath, Kalpana, Giavellotto and Santorini Star.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November, Ethical Diamond won a handicap at the Royal meeting last year but was below his best when fifth of six in the Dubai Sheema Classic won by Calandagan in Meydan in late March.

Tuesday has traditionally been the best day to find a Mullins-trained winner, either in the Ascot Stakes (handicap over two and a half miles), which he has won five times, or the Copper Horse Handicap over a mile and six furlongs, which he has won twice in the past three years.

Mullins has two entries in this year’s Ascot Stakes – Reaching High and Bunting. Owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla, Reaching High started favourite for this race last year but was only ninth after a luckless run. It is surely significant that he tries again on Tuesday, having had his handicap mark protected for an entire year.

Both Bunting and Reaching High are also entered for the Copper Horse Handicap, while stable companion Gaucher has been entered for the 10-furlong Wolferton Stakes on the same day.

Saturday’s Queen Alexandra Stakes over two miles and five furlongs is the likely target for Columbus, where he could be joined by Mr Hollywood. The pair had an unorthodox Ascot prep when finishing a modest second and third in a Killarney novice hurdle last month, on what was their first Irish start.

Both horses were previously trained in France and were Group 3 winners on the continent. Columbus was acquired for €400,000 at the Arqana Autumn Sale in November while Mr Hollywood was purchased by his current connections for just €80,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale last October.

The only other Ascot possible for the Mullins team is Le Destrier. A major eyecatcher when third to Scandinavia at Leopardstown in the Group 3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes, he still holds the Gold Cup entry.