Willie Mullins is Ireland’s champion National Hunt trainer and the dominant force at the Cheltenham Festival. His stable typically sends the largest Irish contingent, targeting championship events across all four days. For Irish punters, Mullins’ runners are central to any Cheltenham betting strategy.
Mullins’ Cheltenham Record
Mullins has been leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival multiple times. His stable covers all distances and disciplines: novice hurdles, champion hurdles, chases from 2m to 3m2f, and bumpers. His runners compete at the top level in virtually every championship race.
| Race Category | Mullins Strength | Key Division |
|---|---|---|
| 2m Hurdles | Very strong | Champion Hurdle, Mares’ Hurdle |
| 3m Hurdles | Strong | Stayers’ Hurdle, Albert Bartlett |
| 2m Chases | Strong | Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| 3m+ Chases | Dominant | Gold Cup, Ryanair Chase |
| Bumpers/Novices | Very strong | Champion Bumper, novice hurdles and chases |
Ante-Post Approach for Mullins Runners
Mullins often has multiple runners in the same race — a runner from his stable may face stablemates. This is important for ante-post bettors: if backing a Mullins horse early, check whether a stablemate may be preferred at the Festival. Race weights and form through the season signal which horse is the main stable hope. NRNB (Non-Runner No Bet) protection is advisable on early ante-post bets.
No specific horses or predictions are listed here as selections depend on current-season form. Always verify runners and market moves close to the Festival. No pronostic is guaranteed. 18+ only.
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Willie Mullins Cheltenham 2027: runners and best bets
Willie Mullins has been the dominant trainer at the Cheltenham Festival in recent seasons, regularly sending 40–50 horses and winning multiple races across the four days. His operation at Closutton, Co. Carlow excels across all divisions but is particularly strong in novice hurdles, mares' races, and Grade 1 championship contests.
Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival record by race type
| Race Division | Mullins Record | Key Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Hurdles (Supreme, Ballymore, Albert Bartlett) | Dominant — typically sends multiple runners in each | Outright winner, top Irish trainer |
| Novice Chases (Arkle, Brown Advisory, Turners) | Very strong — Closutton novice chasers dominate | Ante-post value in novice chase fields |
| Mares' Races (Mares' Hurdle, Mares' Chase) | Exceptional — usually sends the market leaders | Mares' Hurdle: Mullins runners often 1–2–3 |
| Champion Hurdle / Gold Cup | Competitive with top-class horses | Ante-post: check Mullins' final declarations |
| Handicaps | Sends many runners, often hard to identify best chance | Stable money is a key indicator |
Ante-post tips for Mullins horses: watch the Dublin Racing Festival (early February 2027) for form confirmations, and track which horses are supplemented in the weeks before Cheltenham. Final declarations (5 days before each race) confirm which of his multiple entries actually run. Mullins frequently enters 3–4 horses in the same race and often runs all of them, so ante-post bets on individual horses carry non-runner risk.
Mullins typically sends 50 or more runners across the four days, spread across multiple races. He often holds entries in dozens of races before declarations and regularly has 2–3 runners in the same contest.