Willie Mullins claimed the Sky Bet Ebor at York for the third time when Ethical Diamond struck in the hands of William Buick.

Having landed the prize with Sesenta in 2009 and Absurde in 2023, Willie Mullins returned to York with a three-pronged attack, headed by Hipop De Loire and the well-backed market leader Ethical Diamond, who was bidding to follow up his impressive win in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Held up in midfield by William Buick, Ethical Diamond could be spotted travelling sweetly as the field for home and once asked to quicken up by Buick, he readily put the race to bed, sweeping past his rivals down the near side rail before going on to prevail by a comfortable two and a half lengths.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Ascending ensured it was a clean-sweep for Irish handlers, with Queenstown finishing back in third for Aidan O'Brien.

"William said he was a copybook ride," said Mullins in the aftermath of winning £500,000 feature. "He popped off, settled and did everything he wanted him to do.

"He said once he let him go, he quickened up well."

2023 Ebor hero Absurde went on to finish a creditable seventh in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, but Mullins was quick to rule out a crack at the 'race that stops a nation' for this season's winner.

He said: "He won't go to Melbourne as he won't pass the vets down there in Australia, so we wiped that off straight away.

"He's got a screw in his leg from an old injury and that is a straight no-no from them.

"They are the rules and at least we know now and not when they let us get all the way down there.

"I don't know if he's an Irish Cesarewitch horse or we let him run in an Irish Leger, we'll have to see but I'd definitely like to move him up in grade to a Group 2 or a Group 3 at some stage."

Never So Brave battles on to gain City Of York Stakes honours

Andrew Balding enjoyed top-level success when his progressive Never So battled on strongly to defeat Lake Forest and the French challenger Maranoa Charlie in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

A winner over further in the Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot, Never So Brave's surplus stamina kicked in late on as he displayed a willing attitude under Oisin Murphy to fend off Lake Forest by half a length, with Maranoa Charlie staying on well to finish third.

"He's just taken it all in his stride," said Anna Lisa Balding, who was on hand to represent her husband, Andrew. "He's a little bit quirky so to get him to come and win on a big day like this is a great credit to the team.

"Dropping back to seven furlongs, you aren't quite sure how versatile they are. He did it very well today although I think Oisin felt that a mile would be the right spot for him in the future."

King Of Cities claims Strensall Stakes success

King Of Cities could be bound for a trip to Bahrain to contest the International Trophy after winning the 'win and you're in' Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York on Saturday.

Despite being held in high regard by Richard Hannon, King Of Cities was looking for just his second career success and a first since landing a Chester novice last August.

Back up in trip following third place finishes in the Sir Henry Cecil and Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Newmarket and Goodwood, Richard Hannon's talented three-year-old showed a resolute attitude to in the closing stages to fend off Boiling Point by a head, with the fast-finishing Skukuza a neck back in third.

"We've always thought a lot of this horse, but he's looked a little wayward on occasions," said Hannon. "This extended trip suited him, and he'll be a proper horse next year.

"We were planning to use him a bit and possibly make the running, but he could never get there. I'm delighted; he's nearly won a lot of races, but Sheik Mohammed Obaid will be pleased as he's a homebred."

On whether a trip to Bahrain could be on the cards, Hannon said: "We'll speak to Sheik Mohammed Obaid and see what he wants to do. He'll travel no problem as he's very relaxed. He's got a big future."