King Charles’s Horse Reaching High Beaten At Killarney

Key Points

• Reaching High, a horse owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, came in second at the ML Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd. Maiden Hurdle (Division I) in Killarney on Saturday.
• The horse, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Danny Mullins, was one of the two joint favourites at 15/8, with Kingstonian, another horse from Mullins’ stable, being the other.
• Reaching High lost by half a length to Minella Hollow, trained by John Nallen and ridden by Daniel King.
• Willie Mullins has not yet trained a winner for the King and Queen, even though he has been training this particular horse since May 2025.
• Reaching High is sired by Sea The Stars and was previously trained on the Flat by Sir Michael Stoute before he retired.
• The horse first ran for Mullins at Leopardstown in May 2025, where it finished second by a short head with Jody Townend riding.
• Since joining Mullins, Reaching High has been the favourite twice at Royal Ascot, in 2025 and 2026, but did not win on either occasion.
• Kingstonian finished third in the 16-horse race, a length and a quarter behind Reaching High.
• There are plans for Reaching High to race in both the Irish and English Cesarewitch races in the near future.
• Mullins started working with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot, and this led to them sending him a horse to train in Ireland.

Ireland (Britain Today News) — August 22, 2026: Willie Mullins is still waiting to train his first Royal winner after coming agonisingly close at Killarney on Saturday, when Reaching High, the horse owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, was beaten into second place in the ML Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd. Maiden Hurdle.

Mullins saddled Reaching High for the King and Queen in the opening division of the maiden hurdle at the Kerry track, and it was a rare and eye-catching sight to see the famous purple silks paraded on Irish soil. The 15/8 joint-favourite travelled strongly for much of the race in the hands of Danny Mullins, only to be run down close to home. The five-year-old gelding was ultimately beaten by half a length by the John Nallen-trained and Daniel King-ridden Minella Hollow, who started at 11/2 and denied the Royal couple a first success under Mullins’ care.

What Happened In The Killarney Maiden Hurdle?

The Division I running of the ML Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd. Maiden Hurdle attracted a field of 16 runners over two miles and 100 yards on good ground. Reaching High raced prominently and looked to be going best of all approaching the final flight, but Minella Hollow found extra in the closing stages to prevail by half a length. Kingstonian, who shared favouritism with Reaching High at 15/8, came home third, a length and a quarter further back. It was a competitive and keenly fought contest, with the placings separated by narrow margins throughout.

Who Is Reaching High And Why Does He Matter To Racing Fans?

Reaching High is no ordinary maiden hurdler. The gelding is a son of the outstanding racehorse Sea The Stars and was bred from decorated Royal bloodlines. He was previously trained on the Flat by Sir Michael Stoute, one of the most respected names in the sport, before Stoute’s retirement prompted a change of scenery for the horse. His switch to Willie Mullins’ Closutton stable in County Carlow marked a significant moment, as Reaching High became the first horse trained by Mullins in the Royal colours of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

How Did Danny Mullins Ride The Royal Favourite At Killarney?

Danny Mullins, a regular fixture in the Closutton team, took the ride aboard Reaching High and produced a confident, forward-going display. The gelding travelled well through the early and middle stages of the race, sitting close to the pace, and looked to be holding every chance as the field turned for home. It was only in the shadow of the line that Minella Hollow was able to get past, leaving Danny Mullins and connections to reflect on a performance that will have done little to dent confidence in the horse’s long-term prospects.

Who Beat The King And Queen’s Horse At Killarney?

Minella Hollow, trained by John Nallen and ridden by Daniel King, was the horse that got the better of Reaching High on the day. Sent off at 11/2, considerably further down the market than the Royal-owned favourite, Minella Hollow’s narrow victory represented a satisfying result for the Nallen yard. The winning combination showed determination in the closing stages to hold off the fast-finishing Royal hopeful by half a length, with Kingstonian completing the frame in third.

Why Is Willie Mullins Still Waiting For A Royal Winner?

Despite being crowned champion trainer on both sides of the Irish Sea on numerous occasions, Willie Mullins has yet to open his account as a winning trainer in the Royal colours. Reaching High represents his first and, so far, only runner for King Charles and Queen Camilla, and Saturday’s defeat means that landmark remains elusive. Mullins described the arrangement with the Royal household as a source of great pride when it was first announced. In comments carried by the Racing Post, Mullins said: “It’s an honour and a big surprise to be asked” to train for the King and Queen, adding that it was “very exciting” to have a horse in that position.

How Did The Royal Partnership With Willie Mullins Begin?

The connection between Mullins and the Royal couple traces back to Royal Ascot, where the champion trainer was introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Speaking to the Irish Field about how the arrangement came together, Mullins recalled:

“We were introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot last year.”

He explained that a phone call soon followed asking whether he would be willing to take on a horse for the couple, an offer he accepted without hesitation. Reaching High duly arrived at Closutton shortly afterwards, becoming the first horse trained in Ireland for a reigning British monarch.

What Has Reaching High’s Form Been Since Joining Mullins?

Reaching High made his first appearance for the Closutton stable at Leopardstown in May 2025, running in a handicap under Jody Townend. He was beaten only a short head that day, a promising sign for connections that the switch of stable and discipline had not disrupted his ability. That run laid the foundation for a step up in class, and the gelding has continued to be involved in high-profile assignments ever since, culminating in Saturday’s near-miss over hurdles at Killarney.

How Has Reaching High Performed At Royal Ascot?

Reaching High has now gone to post as favourite on two separate occasions at Royal Ascot since joining Willie Mullins, and on both occasions he has failed to deliver the result his backers hoped for. Sent off as a well-fancied contender in the Ascot Stakes in both 2025 and 2026, the gelding disappointed each time, unable to translate his promise into victory on the biggest stage. Saturday’s Killarney run over hurdles represented a fresh test in a different sphere of the sport, and while it ended in defeat, the manner of the performance offered plenty of encouragement.
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What Does This Defeat Mean For Reaching High’s Cesarewitch Claims?

Attention now turns to the autumn, with Reaching High holding entries in both the Irish and English versions of the Cesarewitch. The staying handicaps represent obvious end-of-season targets for a gelding whose pedigree points towards stamina, and connections will hope that the experience gained at Killarney can be built upon before those engagements arrive. A narrow defeat in a competitive maiden hurdle is unlikely to derail those ambitions, and if anything, the fight shown in the closing stages will only add to the sense that big days may still lie ahead.

What Happens Next For Willie Mullins And The Royal Colours?

For Willie Mullins, the search for a first Royal winner continues. The champion trainer has enjoyed almost every honour the sport has to offer, yet the distinction of saddling a winner for King Charles and Queen Camilla remains just out of reach. Saturday’s runner-up finish at Killarney will nonetheless be viewed as a step in the right direction, with Reaching High showing he retains the appetite for competitive racing under a new discipline. As the son of Sea The Stars looks towards the Cesarewitch engagements later in the year, both trainer and owners will hope that the next Royal appointment brings the winner that has so far proved elusive.

Racing fans in Ireland and Britain alike will continue to follow the fortunes of Reaching High closely, given the novelty and prestige attached to a reigning monarch having a horse trained across the Irish Sea. Every outing carries added attention, and Saturday’s narrow defeat at Killarney will only heighten anticipation for what comes next. Whether that next chapter unfolds over hurdles again or on the level in one of the Cesarewitch handicaps, the eyes of the racing world will remain fixed on Closutton and the famous purple silks carried in the name of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.