Two Willie Mullins horses heavily backed for opening day of Royal Ascot

Two of Willie Mullins' runners are being heavily backed for the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting.

The Closutton maestro is sending over a small but select band of horses to the famous Berkshire racecourse.

And with two of his leading fancies being ridden by Ryan Moore, it is not surprising that they have come in for plenty of support.

In the Ascot Stakes, Moore will be on Bring On The Night, who will look to get one better than he did in the same contest last year.

The gelding has been backed from 9/4 overnight into 2/1 for the race run over two miles and four furlongs.

Later on the card, Mullins will run the Rich Ricci-owned Vauban in the Copper Horse Handicap.

Fourth in this year's Champion Hurdle, the gelding, also ridden by Moore, looks to be attractively handicapped back on the flat and has been backed into 15/8 from 9/4.

Ladbrokes' Nicola McGeady said: "The Willie Mullins/Ryan Moore bankers look seriously strong tomorrow with support coming in thick and fast for both Bring On The Night and Vauban. We can only see their odds shortening further.”

Elsewhere, much of the attention will be on Frankie Dettori as the legendary jockey is riding at the famous meeting for the last time.

And Ladbrokes is offering odds of 7/4 that he lands two or more Group One races, while the firm makes it 3/1 that he rides 3 or more Group One winners at the royal meeting.

McGeady said: “Punters are hoping Frankie Dettori will seal his last ever Royal Ascot in style, with money coming in for him beating Ryan Moore to the Top Jockey bragging rights.

"The star jockey has an envious book of rides throughout the week and surely more Group One success is on the cards. How many he can bag remains to be seen."