Another Mullins monopoly a sure bet as Cheltenham prepares for the big off

IT WAS almost fitting that Willie Mullins brought up the 4,000th winner of his training career on Cheltenham Trials Day in January, ‘almost’ because although the landmark success arrived the same afternoon, it actually came at Fairyhouse, across the Irish Sea.

- Malik Ouzia

Any gripe, though, would be violin stuff, since Mullins has enjoyed more than his fair share of that haul at Prestbury Park, 88 of them at the Festival itself, more than any other trainer in history.

With jump racing’s premier meeting set to get underway tomorrow, it is usually around this time that one would weigh up the contenders to be top trainer, but really there seems little point. Mullins has won the prize at eight of the past 10 Festivals, including each of the last four, and in 2022 set a new record of 10 winners across the four days. Needless to say, he is the antithesis of a working man’s price to head the standings once more and only a bit bigger than even-money to reach double figures again.