Willie Mullins Cheltenham Dominance Set To Continue In March
Cheltenham 2025 is just around the corner, and betting sites are offering odds on the big races across the four days of action.
Willie Mullins again dominates the markets as he readies another strong squad to invade Prestbury Park this year.
The legendary trainer has a record 103 winners at the festival, including a tally of nine last year.
That record will almost certainly be extended, with the only question being how many winners will Mullins have at Cheltenham 2025.
If you can predict the outcome correctly, you could win a FREE hospitality trip to Ladies' Day at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April.
Will he have seven or fewer or eight or more winners across the four days? You decide.
Mullins has dominated the headlines at Cheltenham over the last decade.
During that time, he unleashed some legendary horses and managed to come back every year with a bigger and stronger squad.
Here, we delve into his incredible record at jump racing's greatest show, taking a look at his yearly tally and standout performances over the last 10 years.
Cheltenham 2015 - 8 Winners
2015 was the year that Mullins really stamped his dominance on the Cheltenham Festival, recording his best tally at that time with eight winners.
His team included some of the most exciting young horses we had ever seen, including Douvan who got his trainer off to the perfect start with victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Douvan's owner, Rich Ricci, would go on to have a memorable day, with Faugheen retaining his unbeaten status in the Champion Hurdle.
It could have been an even better day for Mullins and Ricci but for Annie Power's dramatic final fence fall in the Mares Hurdle, which stablemate Glen Melody eventually won.
That was the trainer's fourth win of the day, with the unstoppable Un De Sceaux having earlier picked up the Arkle Chase.
Don Poli's RSA Chase win was the sole victory on day two, while Mullins had to settle for just one winner again on day three with Vautour in the JLT Novice Chase.
Day four saw two bigger-priced runners give the Irish trainer his seventh and eighth win of the week.
Despite being a 25/1 shot with betting apps, Wicklow Brave landed the County Hurdle, while Killutagh Vic (7/1) took the Martin Pipe Hurdle.
Cheltenham 2016 - 7 Winners
Despite having one less winner than twelve months earlier, there were some very memorable performances from Mullins' string.
Chief among them was Annie Power (pictured below) who redeemed herself in the Champion Hurdle. It was another year to remember for the Mullins/Ricci combo who also enjoyed victories with Vroum Vroum Mag, Vautour and Douvan.
Yorkhill and Black Hercules, both running in the colours of Graham Wylie, completed the magnificent seven with wins in the Neptune Novices' Hurdle and JLT Novices' Chase respectively.
Cheltenham 2017 - 6 Winners
2016 saw Mullins record six wins. Yorkhill recorded back-to-back festival wins with success in the JLT Novices' Chase, while Un De Sceaux also enjoyed a second Cheltenham win, this time in the Ryanair Chase.
Nichols Canyon showed grit and determination to win the Stayers' Hurdle, and Let's Dance continued her trainer's dominance in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle - completing a four-timer on day three in the process.
The final day of the meeting gave Mullins another two wins, this time with outsiders Arctic Fire in the County Hurdle and Penhill in the Albert Bartlett.
Cheltenham 2018 - 7 Winners
Penhill returned in 2018 to win the Stayers Hurdle, just one of seven winners that Mullins would have that year.
Footpad was a very impressive winner of the Arkle, and that proved to be the first leg of an opening-day treble for his trainer, as Benie Des Dieux and Rathvinden were also both successful.
Bleu Berry was victorious in the Coral Cup, while Relegate took the Champion Bumper, a race that Mullins would dominate in the years to come.
Laurina was the final winner of the week, giving her trainer his third straight win in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Cheltenham 2019 - 4 Winners
2019 proved to be the worst year for Mullins over the last decade.
He managed just four winners, but he did break his duck in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Al Boum Photo (pictured below).
Klassical Dream had given his trainer the perfect start to the meeting with a fine win in the Supreme Novices', followed later by Duc Des Genievres in the Arkle.
The Mares' Novices' Hurdle again went the way of Mullins, this time with Eglantine Du Seuil.
Cheltenham 2020 - 7 Winners
Al Boum Photo was once again the standout performer in 2020. The top chaser became the first horse since Best Mate to record back-to-back Gold Cup wins.
Burning Victory gave Mullins a first win since 2002 in the Triumph Hurdle, while Concertista became his latest winner of the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Ferny Hollow was another impressive Champion Bumper winner, and Min outstayed his rivals to land the Ryanair Chase.
Alongside Burning Victory and Al Boum Photo, Monkfish (Albert Bartlett) and Saint Roi (County Hurdle) brought up a four-timer on day four.
Cheltenham 2021 - 6 Winners
A certain Galopin Des Champs made his Cheltenham debut in 2021. This year's Gold Cup favourite with horse racing betting sites put in an impressive performance to win the Martin Pipe Hurdle.
Monkfish was a Cheltenham winner again, this time taking the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, while Sir Gerhard took the Champion Bumper.
Allaho made quite an impression in the Ryanair Chase, and Colreevy was the winner of the inaugural Mares' Chase.
Cheltenham 2022 - 10 Winners
2022 remains the biggest haul ever achieved by Mullins at the festival. This is despite having to wait for the final race on day one to get his first win of the meeting with Stattler in the National Hunt Chase.
It didn't take long for things to take off from there, however, Sir Gerhard (Ballymore Novices' Hurdle), Energumene (Champion Chase) and Facile Vega (Champion Bumper) completed a treble on day two.
Allaho retained his Ryanair title in style, but this would be the sole day-three victory for Mullins.
Despite Al Boum Photo failing to make it a hat-trick in the Gold Cup, day four is a day that the trainer will never forget.
Out of the seven races on the card, he would win five. Vauban, State Man, The Nice Guy, Elimay and Billaway were the winners on the day, the latter ridden by the trainer's son Patrick.
Cheltenham 2023 - 6 Winners
2023's highlight was undoubtedly Galopin Des Champs' first Gold Cup win. Sent off the 7/5 favourite, the result was never in doubt as Mullins' new chasing star eased to victory.
Earlier in the week, El Fabiolo had also justified favouritism in the Arkle, while there was more success on day one with Gaillard Du Mesnil in the National Hunt Chase.
The unbeaten Impaire Et Passe was magnificent in winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, and Energumene was impervious in defending his Champion Chase crown.
The final day belonged to Galopin Des Champs, but there was also the emergence of a certain Lossiemouth with a winning performance in the Triumph Hurdle.
Cheltenham 2024 - 9 Winners
Mullins and his team were simply unstoppable at last year's festival, winning nine races, the highlight again being a Galopin Des Champs Gold Cup victory (pictured below).
The week began with Gaelic Warrior blitzing a decent field in the Arkle, followed closely by State Man taking advantage of the absent Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle.
A day one treble was completed when Lossiemouth made it two from two at the festival in the Mares Hurdle.
Day two started in the same vein. Ballyburn was magnificent in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle, while Fact To File was a facile winner of the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Another treble was brought up by Jasmin De Vaux in the Champion Bumper.
Day three was a blank for the trainer, but Majborough got the winning trend up and running again by giving Mullins his third straight Triumph Hurdle win on the final day.
Later, Absurde was a rare handicap winner for the stable in the County Hurdle, this before a third treble of the week was secured by Galopin Des Champs.
Cheltenham 2025?
Mullins will head into this year's festival with another talented team of horses, and all eyes will be on Galopin Des Champs as he looks to complete a Gold Cup hat trick.
Currently, he has two odds on favourites on the opening day, with Kopek Des Bordes a strong fancy for the Supreme, and Majborough likewise for the Arkle.
Question marks remain over which race Lossiemouth will run in on day one. She holds entries in both the Champion Hurdle and Mares Hurdle.
There are three current favourites for the Closutton team on day two, with Final Demand (Turners Novices Hurdle), Ballyburn (Brown Advisory Novice Chase) and Kopek De Mee (Coral Cup) all popular in the Cheltenham betting markets.
Mullins is also likely to have a raft of Champion Bumper runners, a race which he has won an incredible 13 times.
Day three sees Maughreen as the current joint-favourite for the Mares Novices Hurdle, while Fact To File seems to have the Ryanair Chase at his mercy. Sa Majeste also tops the Kim Muir market.
The final day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival is all about Galopin Des Champs' Gold Cup bid, but his stablemate Dinoblue is another currently holding favourite status in the Mares Chase.
That is a total of 10 horses that top the markets for Mullins in 2025, seemingly giving him a strong chance of matching his best haul.
Add in his Champion Bumper contingent, his collection of runners in the different handicaps and Lossiemouth's chances in her chosen race, and this could be a record-breaking festival for the master trainer.
To keep up to date with what horses he has in action on every day of the festival, keep an eye on our Willie Mullins' entries page.
So how many winners will Mullins have at Cheltenham this year? We are giving away a chance to win a FREE hospitality trip to Ladies' Day at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April if you can predict it right.
Our experts have set the line at eight winners - so you have two choices - seven or fewer or eight or more.
