Top trainer Willie Mullins has won 88 Cheltenham Festival races over the years, including 10 more last year. With that in mind, we take a look at the main Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival runners.
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Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival 2023 Runners: The Main Players
Willie Mullins will be a short price to be crowned the Cheltenham Festival top trainer again. The County Carlow handler sent out another 10 winners in 2022 and has now been the top festival trainer nine times.
He’s got another big team heading to Prestbury Park in 2023 for the four-day meeting that runs from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th March.
We look at the best Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival runners below as he tries to improve on his 88 winners at the meeting.
Tuesday 14th March 2023 | Facile Vega and State Man on Show
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle- FACILE VEGA: Winner of six of his 7 career starts, including the 2022 Champion Bumper. Went off too quick at Leopardstown last time, when losing his unbeaten record. Will need to settle better, but the betting suggests is still the one to beat.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle- IL ETAIT TEMPS: Beat Facile Vega last time out with jockey Danny Mullins reporting he’s started to get the hang of things. If able to back that run up, has to be a player.
Arkle Chase – EL FABIOLO: Shot to the head of the Arkle Chase betting market after an easy 10 length win in the Irish Arkle recently. Is 2-from-2 now over fences and looks to have more to come.
Champion Hurdle – STATE MAN: Has done nothing wrong in winning his last 5 races. Two of those wins came in the County Hurdle last season and the Irish Champion Hurdle in February. The big danger to Constitution Hill, but many (and the betting) feel he might just come up short.
Mares’ Hurdle – BRANDY LOVE: Recently bought by the Donnelly camp and having beaten Love Envoi easily last April will take on Honeysuckle and co here with a big chance.
Mares’ Hurdle – ECHOES IN RAIN: A race the Mullins yard have won 9 times over the years, so no shocker if he’s got a few in the contest again. This mare was fifth in the race 12 months ago, but she didn’t settle and was slightly hampered too. Certainly not without a chance with a strongly-run race expected to suit.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – TEKAO: Third last time out in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle, but make in grade looks a big player in the Boodles this year.
National Hunt Chase – GAILLARD DU MESNIL: Last seen running third to a classy Gordon Elliott Cheltenham Festival runner – Mighty Potter. Would be in slightly calmer water here and we know he stays having run third in the 2022 Irish Grand National.
Wednesday 15th March 2023 | Energumene Looks to Defend Champion Chase
Champion Chase – ENERGUMENE: Ran below par the last day at Cheltenham when third in the Clarence House Chase. Still the current Champion Chaser and will be a popular pick to defend his crown. If he does will join the likes of Altior, Sprinter Sacre and Master Minded as two-time winners.
Champion Bumper – IT’S FOR ME: Willie Mullins loves to win the Champion Bumper – he’s landed the race 12 times. This 5 year-old has caught the eye with a smooth win at Navan in January and is destined for big things.
Champion Bumper – FUN FUN FUN: Easy winner of the Mares’ Bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. On that form is another with a big chance for Mullins here.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – SIR GERHARD: Winner of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last season and is 1-from-1 over fences since. Won easily on chase debut and being the 2021 Champion Bumper winner too is looking for a famous Cheltenham treble.
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Thursday 16th March 2023 | Blue Lord & Janidil Could Be Ryanair Bound
Turners’ Novice Chase – APPRECIATE IT: Third in the Irish Arkle last time out but looked like he’d benefit from stepping up in trip. Having won the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is no stranger to Festival success.
Ryanair Chase – BLUE LORD: Winner of 6 of his 8 starts over fences, but needs to bounce back from a defeat (2nd) in the Dublin Chase last time. Has won over 2m 4 1/2f and even though he’s got and entry in the Champion Chase, could be re-routed to the Ryanair Chase over a longer trip.
Ryanair Chase – JANIDIL: Runner-up in the Ryanair Chase last season and looks sure to run another solid race. Winner at Gowran Park in February, but that was his first success in eight races.
Stayers’ Hurdle – KLASSICAL DREAM: Fifth in this race last season – beaten 5 lengths – so has a bit of ground to make up. But was only a neck second to likely favourite Teahupoo last time out. On that run is a player again and Mullins has won the Stayers twice 2017.
Mares Novices’ Hurdle – ASHROE DIAMOND: Grade Three winner of the Solerina Mares Hurdle last time at Fairyhouse and will head to the Festival 2-from-4. Willie Mullins has won this race five times since 2016.
Friday 17th March 2023 | Galopin Des Champs Bidding For Gold
Triumph Hurdle – LOSSIEMOUTH: Winner of 3 of her four career starts over hurdles. Unbeaten run came to an end the last time at Leopardstown in the Spring Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. Wasn’t given the best of rides that day and met a lot of traffic in that race. With a clearer run would be a big player to get back to winning ways and represents last year’s winning owner – Rich Ricci – too.
County Hurdle – GAELIC WARRIOR: Wandered around a bit the last day, when winning at Leopardstown, but still got the job done well. Has won his last three now and was a close second in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap at the Festival 12 months ago. Another for owner Rich Ricci and will have plenty of supporters.
Gold Cup – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS: Fell at the last in the Turners at the Festival last season but has been the Gold Cup favourite since. Backed up that position with a win in the Irish Gold Cup recently and will come into the race with 5 wins from 6 over fences. Mullins has two Gold Cup wins to his name.
Mares Novices’ Chase – ALLEGORIE DE VASSY: Willie Mullins has won the only two past runnings and looks to have another top chance of getting a third. This Ricci-owned mare has won both career starts over fences and the betting suggest she’s got Impervious to beat.
Note: Odds are subject to change
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