Trainer Willie Mullins has unearthed a Melbourne Cup contender with Thomas Hobson winning the staying handicap on the first day of Royal Ascot.

Ridden by Ryan Moore on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), Thomas Hobson, was an emphatic winner of the Ascot Stakes (4000m).

Ireland’s champion National Hunt trainer, Mullins’ best result in the Melbourne Cup has been Max Dynamite who ran second to Prince Of Penzance in 2015.

“I think we’d like to go to the 2017 Melbourne Cup with him, that’s the end game,” Mullins said.

Watch his win below:

TRAINER @WillieMullinsNH saddled Thomas Hobson to a striking win in the Ascot Stakes, under Ryan Moore.#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/oyUQMgslIm

— Racing Focus (@Racing_Focus) June 20, 2017