Willie Mullins is a titan in the world of horse racing and his name is tied to his success at the Cheltenham Festival. His exceptional career as a trainer has seen him break records, earn accolades, and establish an unshakeable dominance at the prestigious event.
As the festival approaches once again, fans of the sport eagerly anticipate the impact Mullins and his horses will have at the greatest show on turf. With 103 festival winners to his name, the Irishman is the most successful trainer in the event’s entire history.
His ability to bring top-class horses to the festival year after year, along with his meticulous preparation and strategic race planning, has earned him a place among the legends of sport.
With the 2025 Cheltenham Festival on the horizon, horse racing fans can once again expect Mullins to be a major player, with plenty of excitement and anticipation surrounding his stable’s chances.
In this article, we’ll look back at Mullins’ remarkable history at Cheltenham, covering his achievements, key milestones, and the legendary horses that have brought him success, all while examining how his stable is shaping up for the 2025 renewal next month.
The Long Road to Dominance at Cheltenham
Willie Mullins’ relationship with the Cheltenham Festival spans over two decades, making him one of the most celebrated trainers in the history of the sport. However, his influence on the festival began long before his record-breaking achievements – and it continues to this day.
Mullins first made his mark at Cheltenham in 1995, with his first significant victory coming courtesy of Derrymore in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle. Since then, his career has taken off and has led him to be one of the most popular trainers within the sport worldwide.
Mullins was quick to establish a reputation for training horses that could perform at the highest level, and over the years, the winners kept on rolling in. His stable has produced some of the greatest names in racing history – more on those later.
What sets Mullins apart from other trainers is his ability to dominate across multiple races and multiple disciplines. From novice hurdles to champion chases, the Irishman has won it all.
The number of horses he’s sent to Cheltenham is staggering, and the frequency with which he collects winners at the festival has turned him into a household name among racing enthusiasts. He’s the best in the business and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon.
A Winning Legacy as a Jockey and Trainer
While Mullins is primarily known for his success as a trainer, his history with Cheltenham began in the saddle. Mullins enjoyed a successful career as a jockey, securing a famous win at the Cheltenham Festival. His most notable victory as a jockey came in 1988 when he partnered Virginia Chance to victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
This victory as a jockey was a precursor to his future success, setting the stage for his entry into the training world. After his career as a jockey came to an end, Mullins transitioned to training, where he quickly became one of the leading trainers in Ireland.
Mastering his craft due to his knowledge as a jockey, Mullins’ deep knowledge of not only getting the best out of horses, but also what track would suit them, gave him the upper hand when preparing them for certain races throughout the year.
The festival presents plenty of challenges, but being able to experience that as both a jockey and trainer is one of the reasons why Mullins has been so successful at the Cheltenham Festival.
Number of Winning Horses and Mullins’ Success Rate
One of the most remarkable aspects of Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham legacy is the sheer number of horses he has sent to victory at the festival. His training methods have led to countless successes, and as of 2024, Mullins has accumulated a staggering total of over 100 Cheltenham wins.
Not only does Mullins have a diverse portfolio of winners, but his horses have achieved success in nearly every category at the festival. This includes major events such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the Ryanair Chase, among many others.
Mullins’ ability to bring out the best in his horses, whether they are competing in the festival’s marquee races or in less high-profile contests, is what sets him apart as a trainer.
Some of the most successful horses trained by Mullins include Vautour, Faugheen, Douvan, and Quevega. These horses have become legends, with each playing an instrumental role in propelling Mullins to the top of the Cheltenham leaderboard.
Vautour, a winner of the Arkle Chase and the Ryanair Chase, exemplified Mullins’ mastery in training horses for top-tier chase events. Meanwhile, Faugheen, the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner, cemented his status as one of the best hurdlers of his generation under Mullins’ guidance.
The consistency with which these horses performed at Cheltenham highlights the meticulous planning and attention to detail that Mullins puts into preparing his horses for the festival.
A Record Number of Wins in Cheltenham’s Key Races
Willie Mullins’ dominance at Cheltenham is not just about the number of winners he has accumulated; it is also about the diversity of races in which his horses have excelled. The Cheltenham Festival is made up of 28 races over four days, and Mullins has recorded victories across nearly every single one.
Let’s break down some of his most successful races and horses.
- Cheltenham Gold Cup: Mullins first won Cheltenham’s most prestigious race back in 2019 with Al Boum Photo, who backed it up the following year as well. Mullins is the current holder, with Galopin Des Champs coming out on top in 2023 and 2024. Will he make it a hat trick of wins in 2025?
- Champion Hurdle: A race that has been kind to Mullins throughout his career, with Faugheen securing arguably the most famous victory back in 2015. Faugheen’s dominance of the two-mile hurdling division during his peak years was a key factor in Mullins’ rise at Cheltenham.
- Ryanair Chase: A race in which Mullins has regularly excelled, particularly with one of his best-ever horses, Vautour, who triumphed in the 2016 edition of the race.
- Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Mullins’ ability to develop young talent is evident in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where his horses have often been amongst the favourites. Both Douvan and Un De Sceaux have made their mark here, with the latter securing a thrilling victory in 2015.
In total, Mullins has amassed victories in numerous other races, but his success in these signature events has solidified his place in Cheltenham history.
Mullins’ Most Successful Cheltenham Festival Seasons
One of the hallmarks of Mullins’ career is his ability to peak during the Cheltenham Festival. While there have been some seasons where his stable performed admirably, a few stand out for their exceptional achievements.
The 2015 Cheltenham Festival is often seen as one of the defining moments in Mullins’ career. That year, Mullins registered an incredible eight wins, including Faugheen’s Champion Hurdle victory and Vautour’s victory in the JLT Novices’ Chase. His performances in that season highlighted his ability to prepare horses for the rigours of Cheltenham, and it was the year in which Mullins began to cement his dominance at the festival in earnest.
Another landmark season came in 2021, when Mullins scored a record-breaking 10 victories during the festival. The success of Minella Indo and Al Boum Photo – where the latter picked up the Gold Cup – was arguably the Irishman’s best year in the sport.
The Jockeys Mullins Has Worked With
One of the main reasons for Mullins’ success throughout his career has been his partnerships with some of the best jockeys in the world. Mullins has had a long-standing relationship with jockey Ruby Walsh, who has been instrumental in guiding many of Mullins’ top horses to victory at Cheltenham.
Together, they have revelled in Cheltenham success, with Walsh often the jockey of choice for Mullins’ star horses before retiring back in 2019.
Once Walsh decided to call it a day within the sport, Mullins needed other leading jockeys to continue the good work set by Walsh. Both Paul Townend and son Patrick Mullins have been regular riders for Mullins throughout the racing calendar.
Townend, in particular, has taken on a larger role as the stable’s primary jockey in recent years and has enjoyed his share of big wins at the Cheltenham Festival including Al Boum Photo and Galopin Des Champs.
Willie Mullins’ Thoughts on Cheltenham
Throughout his career, Mullins has spoken candidly about the importance of Cheltenham in the world of horse racing. The Irishman has always stated that the festival represents the pinnacle of achievement for both himself and his horses. In various interviews, he has noted that the challenge of winning at Cheltenham is what drives him to constantly improve as a trainer.
It’s where all the top horses come to compete, and it’s the one place where everything comes together. Winning at Cheltenham is special; it’s the festival we all aim for.
What to Expect from Willie Mullins at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
As we look ahead to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, all eyes will once again be on Mullins and his incredible stable. With an impressive lineup of horses expected to make an appearance, Mullins’ potential to add more titles to his ever-growing collection remains high.
Unfortunately, one of his main hopes for the week, Kawaboomga, has been ruled out of competing in the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle.
But rest assured, the leading trainer has plenty of other red-hot fancies across the week that many punters are piling into ahead of the festival.
Those include Ballyburn, Fact To File, Final Demand, Kopek Des Bordes and, of course, Galopin Des Champs. Many top racing pundits believe Mullins is ready to once again dominate the week, and these are names to keep an eye on in the betting in the lead-up to the festival.
All eyes will be on Galopin Des Champs who’s targeting a third straight Gold Cup under Mullins, who has said how hopeful he is that he can create history.
Galopin Des Champs is a tremendous horse, and you know, he has his own piece of history already, but hopefully there will be more to come this time round, too.
As of now, the betting markets reflect that Mullins’ horses will be strong contenders in several key races. For those looking to place a wager at the Cheltenham Festival, the odds from Tonybet can provide up-to-date insight into the best value picks for Mullins’ horses.
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