The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is on the horizon, and Willie Mullins looks set to dominate proceedings at Prestbury Park once again.
The Irish handler has won the Leading Trainer award a record 10 times, and he is out to win it for a sixth time in a row at this year’s meeting.
He has a fantastic chance to do that, with a strong contingent of horses set to make the trip from his esteemed Closutton stables to Cheltenham Racecourse.
The final day of the meeting has been good for Mullins in recent years, notably landing four winners in 2020 and five in 2022.
Mullins has some fantastic chances on Gold Cup Day again this year, so let’s assess his leading contenders and try to predict how many winners he could have.
Galopin Des Champs – Gold Cup
Where better to start than with the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Before 2019, Mullins had never won the Cheltenham showpiece.
However, he has since taken home the top prize three times in the last five years and Galopin Des Champs should be on course to make it four.
The favourite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024 odds, Galopin Des Champs returned to form with two impressive wins at Leopardstown and he will take all the beating at Prestbury Park.
Dinoblue – Mares’ Chase
Mullins has won the Mares’ Chase twice since its inauguration three years ago, and he looks set to reclaim the title this year thanks to Dinoblue.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has progressed nicely this season, winning a Grade 3 at Naas on reappearance before landing a Grade 1 at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Dinoblue was second to stablemate El Fabiolo in the Dublin Chase when last seen, but you can take nothing away from her in that defeat.
However, she could face stiff competition from another stable companion in this race — Allegorie De Vassy. Either way, this should be another win for Mullins.
Sa Majeste – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Another race Mullins holds the record for the most wins in, the Irishman has won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle four times since 2011.
Sa Majeste, also owned by McManus, is the 4/1 favourite for the final race of the Cheltenham Festival this year.
The six-year-old was a disappointing sixth on his debut for Mullins last April but returned from a 243-day break with a win at Limerick in December — beating former Grand National winner Noble Yeats by over four lengths.
Odds of 4/1 seem good value for your Cheltenham welcome offers, and he could go off much shorter on the day.
Dancing City, High Class Hero, and Readin Tommy Wrong – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
The market for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle remains wide open at the time of writing, with Mullins’ trio of Dancing City, High Class Hero, and Readin Tommy Wrong all priced at 6/1.
Dancing City and Readin Tommy Wrong both scored in Grade 1s when last seen, while High Class Hero is unbeaten over hurdles and has previously won at Listed level.
It’s hard to separate them, but it would seem that one of the three will go on to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Billaway is 11/2 in the St James’s Palace Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase, Absurde is 12/1 in the County Handicap Hurdle, and Majborough is 6/1 in the Triumph Hurdle. All things considered, Mullins should be looking at at least three wins on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
