IT has already been an excellent start to the weekend for team Closutton, with Patrick Mullins riding his first winner at Chester on Friday, and a victory for Willie Mullins’ globetrotting stalwart Absurde in today’s York feature would cap a fine couple of days in Britain for connections.

The Grand National-winning jockey was riding the Ollie Sangster-trained Profit Refused in an amateur riders’ handicap over seven furlongs yesterday, and it will be Danny Tudhope who is charged with delivering the goods for Willie Mullins in today’s Listed Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (3.00pm).

Already an Ebor, Cheltenham Festival and Sussex Champion Hurdle-winning servant for the HOS Syndicate, Absurde finished third behind next week’s Gold Cup favourite at Ascot, Illinois, in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester when last seen.

Only five go to post for this £70,000 contest over a mile and six furlongs, including close-up Yorkshire Cup fourth Alsakib and recent Newbury Group 3 third El Cordobes.

Willie Mullins told The Irish Field: “We think he might have a good chance here, whereas he wouldn’t be an each-way shout in any of the races I have him in at Ascot. So, we’re going where we have a chance of getting some good prize money.”

Patrick Mullins added: “He’s an incredible horse, he’s been to Cheltenham, Ascot and Chester. We’re really looking forward to sending him back to York, he obviously won the Ebor there back in 2023. He’s in great form at home, he’s race-fit and we’re expecting a big run from him.”

On one of his main market rivals, El Cordobes, trainer Charlie Appleby said: “We think that stepping up to a mile and six furlongs will hopefully see some improvement on what he has achieved so far. He has produced solid efforts on his last two runs and goes here in great nick. We are hoping that this might open a few doors going forward.”

Also in the mix is Al Qareem, who finished just in front of Absurde last time at Chester and has won six times at listed or Group level.

Nick Bradley of the ownership group said: “Al Qareem is in great form at home, the [good-to-firm] ground isn’t going to be ideal but hopefully we’ll get a shower.”