Trainer Willie Mullins has won 94 Cheltenham Festival races over the years and of the 28 contests over the four-day meeting, the top Irish handler has won most of them. However, there are still SEVEN Cheltenham Festival races that have so far bypassed Willie Mullins. You can find out which ones below.
Willie Mullins Is Still To Win SEVEN Cheltenham Festival Races
These days there are 28 Cheltenham Festival races spread out over the four-day meeting and no trainer in the history of the event has won more of these prizes than Willie Mullins.
The Closutton handler has his name to 94 Cheltenham Festival winners heading into 2024 and is long odds-on to hit the magic 100 mark with a string of favourites across the event.
Mullins has won ALL FIVE of the main Festival races. The Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers Hurdle, Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup.
Plus, he’s also on the roll of honour in 16 other Festival contests.
However, this means there are still SEVEN races that have so-far eluded the 10-time Cheltenham Festival top trainer.
Interestingly, three of these races also ALL come on day three (Thursday) – the one day Willie Mullins failed to have a single winner in 2023.
The SEVEN Cheltenham Festival Races Willie Mullins Hasn’t Won (Yet)
1. Ultima Handicap Chase (3m 1f)
The first Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival ‘blank’ race is the Ultima Handicap Chase, which is run on the opening day.
Always a competitive heat that has been won for the last two years by Corach Rambler, who has since gone onto win the Grand National.
In fact, it’s not just Mullins, but the Irish trainers as a whole that haven’t done well in this race.
Ireland have only fired in TWO winners in the race since 1967 and are 0-38 in the last 17 runnings.
2. Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Next up is another day one race – the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – or still the Fred Winter to many.
The race was introduced to the Festival in 2005 when the meeting moved to four days and so far it’s been a prize that Mullins is yet to get his hands on.
In contrast, it’s been a top race for trainers Gordon Elliott (4 wins) and Paul Nicholls (3 wins).
Recent Mullins stats tell us he’s 0-19 in the race heading into 2024.
3. Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3m 5f)
The ‘marmite’ Cheltenham Festival race that is the Cross Country Chase is next on the Mullins list of contests not won.
To be fair to Mullins he doesn’t often have many runners in the race, but in recent times with the ones he has fired at the race tell us he’s 0-from-17.
Over the years it’s been a prize trainers Enda Bolger and Gordon Elliott have farmed. Winning the pot five times each since 2005.
4. Grand Annual Handicap Chase (2m)
The Grand Annual, which is now run on day two, is also a race Mullins is still to get his hands on.
Again, in his defence, he’s only had eight runners in the race this century, but they’ve all been beaten.
Mullins did take second in 2023 though, with his classy mare Dinoblue, who will be running in the Mares’ Chase on the Friday this year.
5. Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (3m)
Onto day three and Mullins failed to have a winner on the Thursday in 2023, so you might want to tread carefully.
One of the races that’s bypassed him is the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle. Which is the second contest on day three.
Gordon Elliott, in the other hand, seems to love this race – winning it three times since 2018. While the Irish overall record has seen 7 winners from the Emerald Isle in the last eight years.
6. TrustATrader Plate (Handicap Chase) (2m 4f)
Another day three race that Mullins hasn’t won is the newly named TrustATrader Plate. Formerly the Paddy Power Plate.
Ireland has, however, won five of the last eight, so don’t discount their runners in general.
Mullins had the fifth in 2023 with Haut En Couleurs.
7. Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Handicap Chase) (3m 2f)
The final race Willie Mullins is yet to win at the Cheltenham Festival is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup – a race over 3m2f for the amateur riders.
Mullins wasn’t far off the mark in 2023 though, with his Mr Incredible running third. So maybe it won’t be long before he breaks his duck.
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