NOBODY has won more renewals of the Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (2.20) than Willie Mullins, but he’s chasing an unusual double in this year’s edition.

Sober, last seen bolting up like a 4/5 favourite should under Ryan Moore in the Queen Alexandra Stakes in June, will have a favourite’s chance of bringing up an unorthodox Royal Ascot-Moscow Flyer brace in the space of two starts.

For a race with a fair deal of prestige, it must be said that it’s a disappointing turnout to see a field of just four declared this year - and that will likely to be reduced to three since one of them, Frankie John, finished fifth at Naas on Friday. After all, this extended-two-mile contest has been won in the last dozen years by the likes of Vautour, Douvan, Min, Impaire Et Passe, Mystical Power and - most recently - Salvator Mundi.

Paul Townend has opted to ride Sober from a Mullins-trained duo, just as was the case when the OTI Racing and Why Knot Partnership’s seven-year-old made a winning hurdles debut at Killarney in May. Danny Mullins will take the ride on stablemate Free Spirit, owned by Audrey Turley, as the five-year-old makes his Irish debut following a hurdles victory at Dieppe in June (previously third on his Auteuil bow in October 2024).

Hurdling comeback

Speaking at Naas on Friday, David Casey, assistant trainer to the champion trainer, said: “Sober seems in good order, though he hasn’t run since Ascot so we’ll have to see how he gets on. He has a bit of class from the flat. I’d say he’s just a little bit tricky at times, but he’s working and is a good horse. Hopefully he’ll run well. The race seems to have cut up.

“Free Spirit has his first run for us. He seems a nice horse, but only had two runs over hurdles in France and has no flat or bumper experience. He is nice, though, and is learning the whole time. Hopefully he can run a good race too.”

The line-up is likely to be completed by the Gordon Elliott-trained Road Exile, who got the better of Copacabana (a leading fancy in last year’s Champion Bumper) in a Navan maiden hurdle five weeks ago. Gigginstown House Stud’s six-year-old has yet to race beyond two miles and a furlong over flights but gives the impression he’ll be able to stay further in time.

Eddie O’Leary, racing manager to Gigginstown, told The Irish Field: “Road Exile is a big, honest horse and we’ll let him take his chance - it’s a small turnout. Two miles is probably going to be on the sharp side for him. He’s got every chance of being a chaser in time as he’s got loads of size about him.”