Max Dynamite © Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins will saddle Max Dynamite and Wicklow Brave in the MansionBet Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday.
Max Dynamite won the Lonsdale Cup on the Knavesmire in 2015 and reverts to the Flat under Ryan Moore after disappointing over hurdles at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals.
Wicklow Brave, the mount of Andrea Atzeni, also changes codes after finishing second to Supasundae when defending his crown in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
Last year’s Goodwood Cup winner Stradivarius is the likely favourite for trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori.
The classy colt had a successful three-year-old career. Not only did he lower the colours of Gold Cup hero Big Orange, but he was also a highly-creditable third in both the St Leger and the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.
Stradivarius makes his reappearance in this Group Two contest over a mile and three-quarters which is one of the first legs in the WH Stayers’ Million.
Should he be victorious on Friday, he would be in line for the 1 million pound bonus on offer for any horse that wins one of four prep events in May before going on to claim the Gold Cup at Ascot, the Goodwood Cup and the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup.
Peter Niven’s 2016 winner Clever Cookie will attempt to strike again at the age of 10.
The William Haggas-trained Call To Mind is owned by the Queen who won with Dartmouth last year. Desert Skyline, Count Octave and On To Victory complete the octet.
