Mullins hoping hood does the trick on Stratum

Connections of Stratum are hoping a fitted hood will help land the inaugural JLT Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old has already won the Cesarewitch and Northumberland Plate for owner Tony Bloom and the Brighton chairman has turned to Willie Mullins for this week's race.

Stratum was last seen finishing third to Lagostovegas at Royal Ascot.

Connections are confident that Mullins' touch will give them a chance and assistant trainer Patrick admits the hood is key this weekend.

He said: “We've put the hood on him as he was keen enough at Ascot, so we're hoping it will help him settle.

“He ran on really well at Ascot, he was probably the horse to take out of the race.

“There's huge prize-money for this race, JLT are to be commended, and hopefully he can bring back some sterling. If he produces his run from Ascot, he should be bang there again.

“I don't see the ground being an issue. He's versatile, he handled fast ground well at Ascot and came out of that really well. He's still only had 12 runs in his life, so he's definitely open to more improvement.”