Willie Mullins is the all time leading Cheltenham Festival trainer with 94 winners under his belt, but how many did he train last year (2023)?
Willie Mullins trained 6 Cheltenham Festival winners last year (2023)
Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham festival with 94 winners across his career, 21 in front of next best Nicky Henderson.
He’s six away from the 100 landmark and if he’s as effective as he was last year, Mullins should find surpassing a century of winners an easy enough task.
In 2023, the County Carlow handler trained six winners at Cheltenham – see each triumph below as the team in Closutton continue to dominate affairs.
El Fabiolo – Arkle Chase
El Fabiolo has tasted defeat just once under the care of Willie Mullins when he was beaten a neck by Jonbon in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle over 2m at Aintree in April 2022.
He made the switch over fences like his rival from Nicky Henderson‘s yard but unlike Jonbon, El Fabiolo is undefeated in his chasing career with six wins from six.
Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s prized possession justified 11/10 favouritism in the Arkle last year to edge Jonbon by over five lengths and we’re looking forward to another rematch in 2024.
The pair will go head-to-head in the Champion Chase on the second day of the festival, with El Fabiolo currently a 1/2 favourite according to the best horse racing betting apps.
El Fabiolo wins the Sporting Life Arkle Chase #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/wv27z6OdQG
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2023
Gaillard Du Mesnil – National Hunt Chase
Willie and his son Patrick Mullins made it consecutive years with National Hunt Chase triumph following Stattler’s win in 2022 as Gaillard Du Mesnil made all the running over 3m6f to narrowly pip Chemical Energy.
The odds-on favourite had his work cut out for him from early doors to claim a first festival win on his third attempt – but Mahler Mission’s fall at the second last fence was the key turning point in his favour.
Gaillard Du Mesnil stayed on best to snatch the £60,000 prize for owners Joe and Marie Donnelly.
GAILLARD DU MESNIL!!!!!!!
LUCKY WINNNERR pic.twitter.com/QWeWxm5LoX
— Jamie Racing Plug (@JamieRacingPlug) March 14, 2023
Impaire Et Passe – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Impaire Et Passe entered the 2023 Cheltenham festival with his unbeaten record on the line and he left with it still intact as Paul Townend steered Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s promising star to Ballymore glory.
The 5/2 second favourite travelled strongly throughout the race and made a strong claim for the lead going over the last hurdle, staying on best to win by over six lengths.
Stablemates Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely followed him home to complete a tremendous 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins.
IMPAIRE ET PASSE 🟢🟢 has been confirmed as staying over hurdles and will subsequently be targeting the Champion Hurdle alongside stablemate STATE MAN 🟡⚫️ and CONSTITUTION HILL ⚪️⚫️pic.twitter.com/j1Ji4Ktk1g
— RacingGav (@RacingGav) September 19, 2023
Energumene – Champion Chase
It looked almost too easy for 6/5 favourite Energumene in the Champion Chase, beating Captain Guinness in second by ten lengths as 15/8 rival Edwardstone was nowhere to be found.
Tony Bloom’s superstar became the 13th dual winner of the race with triumph for a second straight season, making amends from a disappointing run at the January meeting earlier that year.
2022 Champion Chase – Energumene 🏆
2023 Champion Chase – Energumene 🏆
2024 Champion Chase – ? 🏆
Does Energumene land three in a row or will El Fabiolo be too strong this year? Or maybe something else wins it? 👀pic.twitter.com/SAahKEnTjX
— RacingGav (@RacingGav) August 21, 2023
Lossiemouth – Triumph Hurdle
Popular owner Rich Ricci found himself back in the winners’ enclosure after the first race on Gold Cup day as Lossiemouth landed the Triumph Hurdle for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.
The four-year-old filly put her rivals to the sword after being sent off the 11/8 favourite, reversing the form from the Dublin Racing Festival with stablemate Gala Marceau.
Lossiemouth is considered a festival ‘banker’ for 2024 in the Mares’ Hurdle and she could be campaigned as a Champion Hurdler next season.
🚀🇮🇪 LOSSIEMOUTH wins the Triumph Hurdle pulling a cart!!
What a special Mare this is. #CheltenhamFestival 🫶 🏇pic.twitter.com/6tHzCxMjyC
— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) March 17, 2023
Galopin Des Champs – Gold Cup
Willie saved his best winner of the week for his last as Galopin Des Champs struck Gold Cup glory in a thrilling encounter against Paul Nicholls‘ King George hero Bravemansgame.
The unlucky punters who were heartbroken when he fell at the last fence in the Turners Novices’ Chase in 2022 had their faith rewarded as Galopin Des Champs landed chasing’s most prestigious prize.
Owner Audrey Turley and Mullins are targeting back-to-back successes in the race in 2024, where Galopin Des Champs can join an illustrious list of dual Gold Cup winners.
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS WINS THE @Boodles GOLD CUP 🏆#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/4cfdULiS6U
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 17, 2023
Willie Mullins Main Runners At The 2024 Cheltenham Festival
If six of these selected winners cross the line in first for Willie Mullins, he’ll become the first trainer in festival history to hit 100 wins – which will see his lead extended yet again at the top.
- Ballyburn – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle / Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle
- State Man – Champion Hurdle
- Lossiemouth – Mares’ Hurdle
- Fact To File – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
- El Fabiolo – Champion Chase
- Jade De Grugy – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
- Galopin Des Champs – Gold Cup
- Dinoblue – Mares’ Chase
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