There is arguably no better combo than Willie Mullins and the Cheltenham Festival, and after a superb time of things over the last decade, he has another monster team to send to Prestbury Park in 2023 and we have gone through some of them.
A nine time leading trainer at Cheltenham, he is the most successful trainer in festival history and has already clocked up 72 winners as we head into this year’s big meeting.
Here is the big guns he will potentially be sending over come March.
6yo Bay Gelding
Target - Supreme
The Willie Mullins horse already has a huge reputation, unbeaten as a bumper horse including an emphatic performance to win the Champion Bumper at last year’s festival. We got to see him over Hurdles for the first time in early December at Fairyhouse, where he won by an easy 14 lengths. He then lined up in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, beating Il Etait Temps by 4 lengths. Who then reversed the form in the Grade 1 Novices Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival on their last run. Facile Vega finished in 5th beaten by 20 lengths finishing last of all the runners who completed that day, and was to disappointing to be true. The race wasn’t run to suit, and he did scope badly after the race, so excuses were there for a poor performance. He will need to put that poor showing behind him to win a Championship race like the Supreme on the opening day of the festival, but as we all know he is talented, and in good hands to put that race behind him.
5yo Grey Gelding
Target - Supreme
Already a Grade 1 winner in six Hurdle starts, he was pitched in some very decent contests last year without even having a Hurdle win to his name, contesting in three Grade 1's on just three runs last season. He won on merit that day last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival, and although Facile Vega probably didn’t run at his best, this horse still won nicely by just under 10 lengths. His good form is all there for everyone to see, and he seems to still be improving with each run, He in quite a few eyes can confirm the form with Facile Vega again in the Supreme, and win the opening race of the festival.
5yo Bay Gelding
One of the more interesting runners for the Mullins yard, he is currently unbeaten in his short career to date, having one run in France before joining his new yard and winning on both of his first two Hurdle starts. He was a very impressive winner on his Hurdle debut at Naas, when contesting against 23 other rivals, but he stamped his class on the field to win with ease by 18 lengths. He then lined up in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer next time out at Punchestown, confirming the promise that quite a few hold him in, jumping nicely, travelling strongly before powering down the home straight by just under 7 lengths. He is a powerful finisher, which will suit him at Cheltenham, but does he have the speed that some of the other runner's possess, only time will tell.
5yo Chesnut Gelding
Target - Supreme
One of the lesser experienced horses who could line up at the festival this year, having plenty of runs on the flat in France, winning one occasion and placing on many, he has had just the two runs over Hurdles for his new yard. Coming 6th in a 27 runner Maiden at Leopardstown in December, before going on to win very nicely indeed by 23 lengths at Punchestown last month. That look a partially eye catching performance, and his trainer has since come out and said he is impressed with him, stating he could be the real deal in time. It's hard to gauge his ability at present however, as he only won a Maiden Hurdle last time out, but the usual consensus is Wille Mullins is one of the best when it comes to improving horses on from their Maiden wins. As stated by his trainer, he's one to keep an eye on no matter the result in this race.
6yo Bay Gelding
Target - Supreme or County Hurdle
Another classy horse that the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede team have, he was a flat winner in France and a three-time winner in bumpers, he has converted that class over to Hurdles as well. Only managing 3rd on his Hurdling debut, he improved tremendously from that run to win his maiden Hurdle by 13 lengths, making all to pull away and win unchallenged. He looks set to head into the Supreme off the back of a decent Listed winner, beating Imagine by 6 lengths at Navan a few weeks back, winning that race as the margin suggests, very comfortably. He did put in a few suspect jumps on the way around, but he clearly has an engine that could set him well for Cheltenham, but is he as good as some of the other Willie Mullins runners, only time will tell.
6yo Bay Gelding
Target - Arkle
A horse that shot into favouritism for the race after his excellent display in the Irish Arkle at The Dublin Racing Festival, when winning by 10 lengths taking his record to two wins in just two chase starts. He wasn’t exactly fancied to win on that occasion, but he did wipe the floor with his rivals to win by 10 lengths, with Banbridge in behind. He holds the record of two wins in two starts over the larger obstacles, and is now set to have a second battle with Jonbon, after their tussle at the Aintree meeting in the Top Novices Hurdle last year. Both horses look to be even better chasers than Hurdlers, so it will be fascinating to see who can get the better of each other at Cheltenham in a championship race.
7yo Bay Gelding
Target - Arkle
A horse that is quite clearly talented on his day, he is yet to show that on the biggest stage when contesting in Grade 1 contests. He was quite impressive on his chase debut at Leopardstown last December, smashing his rivals into submission to beat Irascible by 28 lengths. He jumped well on that occasion and made all, to win unchallenged. He then lined up in the Irish Arkle when finishing a 10-length 4th, which was a fairly decent run all things considered, as he was picked up late on in the day by the horses who finished ahead of him. His trainer Willie Mullins is pretty adamant Cheltenham will suit his running style well, as there are plenty of turns and jumping is emphasised there. He is yet to show that he is a top-class horse, but his trainer thinks he could run well at this year's festival.
8yo Bay Gelding
Target - Arkle, Brown Advisory, Turners and Stayers Hurdle
A horse that has plenty of entries for Festival week, his trainer has said that he is unsure on what to do with him, due to him still learning his trade over the larger obstacles. He was a very decent bumper horse and hurdler, and was especially impressive when winning the Ballymore in the mud at the festival last season and the Champion Bumper the season. He lined up over 2 miles for his Chase debut at Gowran Park in January, just having the three runners to beat. We didn't particularly learn to much that day, as we all know he is classy, but his jumping left little to be desired at times, and I think his trainer knows that so he is going to assess his options before going into the festival. Willie Mullins is contemplating stepping him up in trip to help him settle better and it will help with his jumping. It will be very interesting to see where the horse goes, as he clearly loves Cheltenham, a place he has won two championship races at.
9yo Bay Gelding
Target - Turners
He does have an entry in the Arkle, but after his run last time out and Willie Mullins comments about him, it looks as if the step up in trip is inevitable. He looks to have slightly lost the speed he once had, especially when winning the Supreme by half of Cheltenham in 2021, he was expected to go out and win the Irish Arkle last time out when sent off favourite, but was a well beaten 10 lengths in third. He currently has two wins in just three career starts over fences, and is very talented on his day, but he looks to have lost that yard of pace so if he steps up in trip for the festival, he could be one to keep an eye on. Willie Mullins is the master at getting his horses ready and knowing what races to go for, so he will know what to do with the horse who has a few question marks surrounding him at present.
6yo Chesnut Gelding
Target - Champion Hurdle
He is clearly a very, very talented horse and he more than showed that last time out in the Irish Champion Hurdle, that he is the best of the Irish contingency heading into the first championship race of the festival week. He has won a County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year, the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, The Mathesons Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle, both of the last two this season, taking his tally to four Grade 1’s and counting. His Irish Champion Hurdle performance last time out was no doubt a career best, serving it up to the rest of the field, by making all to win comfortably by 4- and three-quarter lengths. He doesn't really have any flaws to his game, making him a formidable opponent for Constitution Hill, what a race we could have in store.
5yo Chesnut Gelding
Target - Champion Hurdle
In a season full of top class 2-mile hurdlers, Vauban has slightly struggled to get his head in front but more than held his own, finishing 2nd behind State Man on his seasonal debut in the Mathesons Hurdle last December, he then went on ton contest in a decent Irish Champion Hurdle field. A few expected him to go close in this race, but he could only manage third, beaten by just over 5 lengths. Willie Mullins has come out and said that he is still learning, and it is quite difficult for the 5-year-old second season hurdlers to bridge the gap on the older horses, so he could very much be the full package next season once he has grown and learnt some more. It will be difficult to stop the top two in the Champion Hurdle market, but he could run well at a venue where he won the Triumph last season.
7yo Bay Mare
Target - Mares Hurdle
A Grade 1 winner last season, she is a horse that had her preparation run just a few days ago at Punchestown, she finished 3rd behind Queens Brook and Anna Bunina. To the eye that probably wasn't the result people were expecting, especially considering she is fancied the Mares Hurdle, but that was her first run in 10 months, on a track that probably doesn't really suit her running strengths, as she seems to run better when running on left-handed tracks. Willie Mullins is fairly confident that she will come on for the run, and run well at Cheltenham, a track that will bring more out of her. But the Mares race is a cracking contest this season, so she will need to step up her form to a whole new level to beat some proper Grade 1 horses that could line up in the race.
4yo Bay Gelding
Target - Boodles
A horse in the JP McManus colours that has caught the eye of many this season so far, running decent enough to come 3rd on his stable debut, before going on to get a cosy ride when winning on his 2nd career start at Leopardstown in December. He then came 3rd next time out in a Grade 1 behind Gala Marceau at the Dublin Racing Festival, beaten by just under 11 lengths. He looks to have been tenderly handled in his three runs over Hurdles, and he has been fancied for the Boodles by many, a race that the yard like to leave for a potential Graded horse in a Handicap, and Tekao could be the one to fill that mold of previous years.
7yo Grey Gelding
Target - Brown Advisory or National Hunt Chase
A horse that looks set to contest in one of the staying chases at this year's festival, who has looked all a stayer in the making. With just the record of one win in eight career starts over the larger obstacles, that one win was arguably a career best when winning the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novices Chase at Leopardstown in December. He kept on very strongly that day when heading to the line in front, and it was a slight surprise to see him line up against Mighty Potter over 2m5f last time out, where he just lacked the pace pf the other runners. That race would put him right for the festival, and with his options still being considered, he could be a force no matter where he heads next month when contesting in staying races.
6yo Bay Mare
Target - Mares Chase
A horse that perfectly fits the mold of a previous yard Mares Chase winner Colreevy, who was a novice when landing this contest back in 2021, with not many chases starts to her name. Allegorie De Vassy has only had the two chase starts in her career, so that could be a slight issue especially when it comes to coming up against some experienced mares in a festival race. But she could have not been any more impressive if she tried in her two chase runs this year, winning on her debut over larger obstacles in a Grade 2, where she jumped nicely to win by 19 lengths. She then went on to contest in another Grade 2 Mares Chase, this time at Thurles where she beat Brides Hill (Who has since won a Listed Mares Chase) by 19 lengths. That last piece of form shows she has some ability, and she could in fact improve past the rest of the mares chase field to win again this season.
8yo Bay Gelding
Target - Champion Chase or Ryanair
A horse that has come on leaps and bounds since going over fences, winning various Grade 1’s including a career best performance in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown in December. He did disappoint last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival, when another Willie Mullins horse that was expected to go and win, sent off at odds-favourite in the Dublin Chase, only to be well beaten by Gentleman De Mee by 7 lengths. Paul Townend stated that the horse felt flat throughout the race, and nothing was picked up after the race which does leave slight question marks heading into the festival, but if he can re-produce anything near to his previous runs over fences, then he will be hard to stop. He still hasn't had his plans for the festival confirmed as yet, but with Allaho now out the Ryanair his trainer said it might make sense to run him in that race.
7yo Bay Mare
Target - Mares Hurdle or Champion Hurdle
Willie Mullins stated that her run in the Mares Hurdle last year was almost too bad to be true, as they believe she is way better than the performance she put in. And she did certainly show that last time out when running in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle, beating Cash Back by 10 lengths, winning at a canter suggesting she is too good to be running in that Grade of race. She was a Grade 2 winner as a Novice hurdler, and he slightly come unstuck when contesting in races of the highest level, and given how strong both the Champion Hurdle and Mares Hurdle is this year it is hard to see her winning, but she is game and consistent so she could surprise us and run a decent race to fill the places.
9yo Brown Gelding
Target - Champion Chase
Last year’s impressive Champion Chase winner, is on a slight recovery mission after a disappointing effort in the re-arranged Clarence House Chase last time out. So going into this year’s festival there are a few question marks surrounding him after that run last time out, but there seem to be on all of the main runners in this year’s Champion Chase, we all know how talented he can be with the form figures of 3111111121113, he has never finished out of the placings and has been contesting in some top quality Grade 1's recently. Judging on his performances last year where he was a multiple Grade 1 winner, if he can bounce back to his very best, and put in a performance like he did in this race last year, he will be hard to peg back.
7yo Black Gelding
Target - Gold Cup
One of the stars of the national hunt scene, probably the most exciting horse heading into this festival where most will be going to see him, who put in a career best last time out in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival. He is already a multiple Grade 1 winner over fences, and was unlucky not to add another one when falling late on at the Festival last year. He is another horse with no flaws to his game, he jumps perfectly over his fences, and travels smoothly through his races, really putting the other runners to the sword with his class. There are a few question marks on whether the step up to 3 miles plus will suit him, especially with the stiff finish of Cheltenham, but given how he ran through the line last time out, and Paul Townend struggled to pull him up suggests he had a lot more in the tank and looking ready for this step up in trip.
7yo Bay Gelding
Target - Champion Chase
In what looks like the yard second string heading into the second Championship race of the festival week, it came as a bit of a surprise to racing fans and Willie Mullins in how impressive he was when winning last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival, given a terrific ride by Danny Mullins. He beat Blue Lord by 7 lengths that day, after jumping really well in the spring conditions, which was reported by the trainer afterwards as to being his optimum ground conditions. He always seems to run well in the UK, and beat Edwardstone at Aintree last April. If he can reproduce the form of last time, he might outrun his odds, especially if he is given an enterprising ride once again.
9yo Bay Gelding
Target - Stayers Hurdle
It is unsure on whether he will line up at the festival this year, with Willie Mullins stating they might wait for the Aintree or Punchestown Festivals the following month, but he still currently has an entry in the Stayers Hurdle. A multiple Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including a Supreme Novices Hurdle victory back in 2019, winning by an impressive 4 lengths, he has looked more of a stayer these days, winning multiple times over the 3 mile plus trip. He ran a decent enough race last time out behind Teahupoo in the Hatton's Grade over an inadequate trip, where he just got pipped in the final few strides, he still looks as if he retains his ability. Willie Mullins has said he is impressing enough at home, but they don't want to rush him into any races. It looks as if they are biding their time with him this season.
8yo Grey Gelding
Target - Brown Advisory or National Hunt Chase
Another thorough stayer for the Mullins yard, he is a horse that really relishes a testing stamina trip, which would make him tailored made for the National Hunt Chase. He was a winner on Chase debut at Thurles back in December last year, jumping nicely before staying on powerfully all the way to the line. He then lined up in the Grade 3 Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase, where again he stayed on nicely up the home straight to finish with his head in front, but was later demoted to 2nd after a steward's enquiry. That was unfortunate, but the right decision at the time. It's hard to tell if he would had won that day without the sneaky ride from Paul Townend, but one thing is for sure he would have been staying on all the way to the line.
8yo Brown Gelding
Target - Gold Cup
A horse who has always been in the thoughts of people's minds when it comes to potentially being a gold cup horse, last year's National Hunt Chase winner, he beat Run Wild Fred by 8 lengths after an excellent round of jumping, that performance was the one that put him in the Gold Cup picture. He went off as the odds-on favourite in the Grade 3 New Year's Chase (The race won by Al Boum Photo on multiple occasions before winning the Gold Cup) but was beaten by Minella Indo by a neck. He was staying on well coming to the line, but just couldn't get his head in front at the crucial time. His trainer has said all being well on the way around he will be staying on up the hill, a track that he clearly does well at.
4yo Grey Filly
Target - Triumph
A horse going into this Cheltenham Festival with a pretty big reputation, which was ever so slightly dented in her last run at the Dublin Racing Festival. She was pitched straight into Grade 3 company on Hurdle debut, jumping nicely all the way around before going on to win by 4 lengths. That form has been franked nicely since with Comfort Zone coming out to win two Grade 2 contests, who finished 3rd behind Lossiemouth on her debut. She then followed that up with a nice performance in a Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown, winning by 7 and a half lengths. She was well fancied heading into the Dublin Racing Festival, but was beaten into second by Gala Marceau by just over 2 lengths, after some hard luck stories on the way around, with horses getting in her way and having to go wide at crucial stages of the race. She is clearly the one to beat still, even after her defeat last time out.
5yo Bay Gelding
He has been running at 2 miles on his previous four runs, which were his first four rides for his new yard Willie Mullins, including a decent 2nd place finish in the Boodles at the Festival last year. He seemed to be campaigned with a big handicap in mind for the festival, as he was given a pretty lenient mark of 134 at the start of this season after that decent run in the Boodles last year, and that clearly was as lenient as we all thought as he has shot up the ratings to a mark of 153 now. Gaelic Warrior has been quite impressive this season, winning all three of his races by just over 105 lengths, including an 86-length win on his seasonal debut at Tramore. But arguably his best performance this season came last time out, when winning a competitive handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival by just under 4 lengths.
5yo Chesnut Gelding
Target - Champion Bumper
It’s For Me does look potentially the best of the bunch in what looks like a wide-open Champion Bumper this year, winning his debut bumper run at Navan in fine style, looking keen in the early stages before going on to win very impressively by 10 lengths. The form hasn’t exactly been franked since then, with the runners in behind running since and not winning, but he couldn’t have been any more impressive at a track that is a stiff test for horses with little experience. His running style suggests that Cheltenham will suit, but only time will tell if he is good enough to win this wide-open race come March.
6yo Bay Mare
Target - Mares Novices Hurdle
Arguably Willie Mullins's best chances of the winner in the Mares Novices Hurdle, Last year's Grade 2 Mares Bumper winner at the Aintree festival Ashroe Diamond heads into this race off the back of a decent performance in a Grade 3 Novice Mares Hurdle, beating Jetara by just under 2 lengths. She was very well fancied to win that day, and probably could have won by further if she didn't have trouble in running after the 2nd last, but she didn't let that bother her and when the gap appeared she ran on well to win. She has some decent form in Grade 1 Novice contests before that, finishing behind Marine Nationale on one occasion and Facile Vega on another occasion. She has some excellent form without winning, and could be too good for some of the other mares in this race.
7yo Bay Gelding
Target - Ballymore
This horse had quite a big reputation coming into this season, a winner on his only bumper start in 2021, he won on his only hurdle start in the season last year, beating Esperti by 21 lengths. He won on his seasonal re-appearance this season contesting in a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Listowel, before going on to win another Grade 3, come 4th in a Grade 1 and then win the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas contest on his last run at Naas in January. That was a strong performance from him, beating Irish Point by just under 3 lengths, after keeping on very well towards the finish. His trainer has said the Ballymore looks his bread and butter at a track that will suit his strengths. In a few people's eyes he is most likely the winner of the Ballymore, as his profile fits this race more than any other runner. He looks set to run in the Ballymore after a nice break to freshen him up, as he was a busy horse early on in the season, which is quite rare for a Willie Mullins Grade 1 horse.
4yo Chesnut Gelding
Target - Triumph
The horse that looks to be the biggest threat to Lossiemouth, Blood Destiny has done nothing wrong in his short career, and he heads to the festival next month fresher than some of the other runners in the field. A very decent 2nd in France for his previous trainer, he was an impressive winner on Hurdling debut for Willie Mullins at Cork back in December, beating Sir Allen by 5 legnths (Who has since come out and won twice after this race) He then went to Fairyhouse and ran in the mud, to make all and win with ease by 18 lengths, really stamping his authority on this division. He lacks the Graded race experience, but his trainer is the best at getting horses to keep improving, and he most definitely looks the sort to improve again, even if he doesn't win the Triumph, he is one to very much keep an eye on going forward.
4yo Bay Filly
Target - Triumph
Another Willie Mullins imports from France who is clearly very talented, she was a multiple winner in France, before going on to finish 2nd on her debut for Willie at Leopardstown in a Grade 2 contest, where she finished second to Lossiemouth by just over 7 lengths. She then reversed that form with her at the Dublin Racing Festival, where getting the rub of the green to win by just over 2 lengths. Now there will be question marks on whether she can hold that form at the festival, due to Lossiemouth being slightly unlucky in running, but to do that on only just her second start in Ireland is quite impressive, so she deserves a lot of credit. She can be her worst enemy though, as she pulls quite hard during a race, which will not be a good thing when it comes to running at Cheltenham.
6yo Bay Mare
Target - Mares Novices Hurdle
Another French flat recruit for the yard in these colours, she was pitched straight into the deep end on her hurdling debut for her new yard, contesting in a Grade 1 Mares Hurdle at Punchestown last April where she was well beaten into 9th. That might go to show the high regard connections hold her in, although that was particularly a great run it was her hurdle debut, and she put amends to that by winning her Maiden Hurdle start with absolute ease, winning virtually at a canter by 22 lengths. Again it's hard to tell where her ceiling is at, given she's had just the two runs over Hurdles, but the yard have a knack for getting their horses to improve tremendously from their Maiden Hurdle win, so the same could be said about this horse as she is set to line up in the Mares Novices Hurdle.
7yo Bay Gelding
Target - Kim Muir
A horse that only had the two starts over Hurdles, he was obviously always thought of as a nice staying chaser in the making, and he is starting to show that now he is with Willie Mullins. He was brought down in his stable debut after only 4 jumps, so it's almost impossible to determine how he would have ran in that race should that incident have not happened, he then went on to run a decent race coming 2nd behind Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase at Warwick last time out, running on very well late in the day. He lacked the pace to catch the winner that day, but was still running on well all the way to the line, suggesting a stiff 3m2f at Cheltenham could be his bag.
5yo Bay Mare
Target - Champion Bumper
It's been well documented that the Champion Bumper scene this year isn't as good as previous years, with it lacking at this stage a potential superstar that we have seen in the past. But that still, Willie Mullins has his usual many runners entered in the race and Fun Fun Fun could be one to win this race again for the Mullins yard. She was a winner on her racecourse debut at Sligo, racing wired all the way around before going on to stay on very well all the way to the line, winning by 10 lengths. She then lined up in the Grade 2 Mares Bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, taking a keen hold throughout before keeping on strongly again, responding well to pressure. She hasn't done anything wrong as yet, and her performance last time out was good to watch. Keep an eye on jockey bookings nearer to the time of the race, as that could be critical, especially when it comes to the Willie Mullins runners.
5yo Chesnut Gelding
Target - Martin Pipe
A winner in France for previous trainer, he is yet to win for his new yard since coming over and contesting in Novice hurdles, placing on all three starts, he went off favourite on each run. His jumping in those runs hasn't been particularly great, which is probably the reason he is yet to get his head in front, which is quite rare for a Willie Mullins horse. He has been given an opening mark of 131, which seems fairly generous considering he hasn't finished out the frame at all in any of his runs. He could be an interesting one to keep an eye on in the markets for whatever he lines up for, especially if it is a handicap contest.
