Last Updated on 04/03/2026 by Andy Clark
Willie Mullins is the most dominant force in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. Since his first winner in 1995, the Closutton handler has transformed what it means to train for the meeting — sending over raiding parties that regularly win a quarter or more of the entire card. In 2025 he trained ten winners across the four days, the second time in four years he had reached double figures.
With the 2026 Festival running from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th March, we’ve gone through Mullins’ likely team race by race. For our full ante-post tips across all 28 races, see the Cheltenham Festival tips hub, and for the free bets to back them with, see our Cheltenham free bets guide.
What would the Cheltenham Festival be without another strong Irish raiding party from Willie Mullins’ Closutton base? Since saddling his first Festival winner back in 1995 when Tourist Attraction won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle under jockey Mark Dwyer the master Irish handler has largely dominated the greatest show on turf and is the most successful trainer in the history of the Festival with 113 winners at the conclusion of the 2025 renewal.
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival will no doubt boast another strong team as Mullins looks to beat his 2025 haul of 10 winners, the second time in four years he had reached double-figures and the vast majority of the 28 races over the course of the four days of the Festival will have at least one runner representing the Closutton handler including several of his big winners from twelve months ago.
Here, we preview just a few of Willie Mullins’ main Cheltenham Festival hopes.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Mighty Park
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Willie Mullins usually throws a few early darts at the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser, and this year is unlikely to be any different, with MIGHTY PARK (5/1) looking his first string; given his record in this race in recent seasons, his runners are always hard to ignore.
Recruited from the point-to-point ranks, Mighty Park was an impressive winner of his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse in January, demolishing stablemate Roc Dino by almost forty lengths. It is difficult to overlook that demolition job where he made all, jumped well and could be the called the winner a long way out, and Mullins likened that performance to one of his stable greats in Faugheen. High praise indeed!
Mullins usually has a good one in this race, looking back to the likes of Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan as just three of his biggest winners and while Mighty Park will face a much stiffer challenge against the likes of Nicky Henderson’s Old Park Star, Dan Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy and Gordon Elliott’s El Cairos amongst others in opposition it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Mullins get off the mark early.
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Arkle Challenge Trophy – Kopek Des Bordes, Kargese
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KOPEK DES BORDES (2/1) was the winner of his first four starts for Mullins, including last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he lost his unbeaten record on his final start of the campaign when only fourth to Irancy at Punchestown.
Switched to chasing this term, he put in an impressive display to win at Navan back in November, his only run this season to date, and it will be a much tougher test of his credentials taking on top-class opposition with more experience, including Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba who is 3-3 over fences since his runner-up finish in last season’s Triumph Hurdle.
Mullins could also line up with KARGESE (11/2) in the Arkle, and the mare has three chase runs to her name, which includes a win at Leopardstown over Christmas, and she was last seen chasing home Romeo Coolio – who could also line up – in the Irish Arkle recently. She would have to be respected, and her presence gives Mullins a strong hand in the contest.
Champion Hurdle – Lossiemouth, Poniros
LOSSIEMOUTH (11/4) would undoubtedly be Mullins’ best hope this year of Champion Hurdle success, but her participation remains uncertain, and she could yet go to the Mares’ Hurdle. She boasts obvious claims in this race, though, having been beaten only twice over timber by Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead, respectively.
It would be foolish to overlook her if she took up her engagement here, while PONIROS (10/1) won last season’s Triumph Hurdle and would be bidding to end the poor record of winners in that race coming into the Champion Hurdle.
Beaten at Punchestown on his next start and never a factor when tried on the flat at Royal Ascot, he was beaten 14 lengths by Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth at Leopardstown in February. While that was his first run of the campaign and he’s expected to strip fitter, he’ll have to improve considerably if he’s take this prize.
Turners Novices’ Hurdle – King Rasko Grey
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Placed in two bumpers before getting off the mark in good style on his first hurdles start at Limerick and he improved again to go close at Leopardstown, beaten just a half-length into third behind Talk The Talk.
He probably needs to find some improvement on that performance with Paul Nicholls’ No Drama This End, already many people’s Festival banker, and he could also lock horns again with Talk The Talk in the race. Mullins knows what it takes to win this, though, and he’s respected in a wide-open contest.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Final Demand, Kaid D’Authie
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FINAL DEMAND (7/2) finished third in last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase before winning a Grade One at Punchestown, and he impressed in each of his first two chase starts, winning both, including a Grade One at Leopardstown.
Those wins thrust him to the head of the market for this race, but his bubble was somewhat burst when turned over by stablemate Kaid D’Authie at Leopardstown last month. He didn’t jump with the same fluency as he had done previously and will need to brush up in that department. He can’t be written off on the back of that defeat, however, but he does need to bounce back.
KAID D’AUTHIE (6/1) has reacted well to cheekpieces, winning over hurdles last term when the headgear was applied, and they made a reappearance at Leopardstown, which coincided with a career-best effort. While he’s likely to be the Mullins second string, he does bring some good chase form to the table, runner-up on debut to Kitzbuhel before beating Wingman at Fairyhouse and latterly his Grade One victory. He could be one flying a little lower on the Mullins radar.
Queen Mother Champion Chase – Majborough, Il Etait Temps
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Not always foot-perfect over fences, but it is hard to dismiss MAJBOROUGH’s (5/6) talent, and he comes into this having beaten Marine Nationale convincingly at Leopardstown last time.
The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner has won four of his seven races over fences thus far, and the application of cheekpieces might have coincided with his improved effort last time. If his jumping holds up in the white-hot atmosphere of Cheltenham, then it’ll take a good one to beat him.
IL ETAIT TEMPS (11/2) adds some further strength to the Mullins challenge, and the grey is no back number himself in this race, although he is 0-3 here over hurdles and fences. Third in the 2024 Arkle, he has had several issues since and missed most of the 2024/25 campaign with just one run.
He has returned in good fettle, winning his first two starts, which includes a defeat of Jonbon at Sandown, although he was a faller at Ascot when beaten behind the same rival in the Clarence House. Giving a good account of himself in this wouldn’t surprise, but his course record and recent fall are both negatives.
Champion Bumper – Love Sign D’Aunou, The Irish Avatar, Quiryn
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Mullins always has a strong hand here, and many of his top stable stars down the years have won this. LOVE SIGN D’AUNOU (9/2) could be the latest in a long line, and he made a very impressive debut at Naas, where he won by a wide margin without ever being seriously extended.
He could be anything, but after just one start, he’ll need to back it up. Similar comments apply to both his stablemates THE IRISH AVATAR (8/1) and QUIRYN (10/1), who have both had just one run, with both winning easily. This is a race that is hard to call given Mullins’ usually powerful yard, and all have big claims.
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Bambino Fever
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BAMBINO FEVER (5/4) won the Champion Bumper twelve months ago, following up at Punchestown and while she met with defeat on her debut at Naas she showed that running to be all wrong when bolting up at Fairyhouse next time.
Her defeat came at a time when the yard was below form and she probably needed the run in any case. She came on a bundle for her return and she’s a banker for many already including trainer’s son and top amateur rider Patrick Mullins who reckons she’s the yard’s best chance of a winner at the Festival.
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Mares’ Hurdle – Lossiemouth, Jade De Grugy
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We’ve already touched on LOSSIEMOUTH (11/10) earlier in the piece; this race is still very much on her agenda, and she’d have a winner’s chance if turning up for this over the Champion Hurdle. Either way, JADE DE GRUGY (5/1) also has solid claims and is an able back-up to Lossiemouth – or a solid super-sub if she doesn’t take up this engagement.
Second in the race twelve months ago, she won a Grade One at Punchestown, and this season she’s been chasing with three runs, which includes a win latest at Thurles. Wodhood aside, this doesn’t look a particularly strong contest and Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead – who also holds an entry in this – both could turn out on Tuesday instead, so connections could be swayed to switch her back to the smaller obstacles.
Ryanair Chase – Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior
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FACT TO FILE’s (5/6) Cheltenham record reads 211, winning this race twelve months ago and getting back to winning ways in the Savills Chase latest, having disappointed in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. He beat Gaelic Warrior at Leopardstown, but he’d been beaten by the same on both previous runs of the season. Course record affords him the utmost respect, and he’ll likely go close again.
GAELIC WARRIOR (5/2) would be a tough nut to crack if turning out here, but the Gold Cup looks a more viable option, leaving JP McManus’ star as Mullins’ best hope of taking this prize again.
Triumph Hurdle – Proactif
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PROACTIF (7/2) is a French winner who got off the mark at the first attempt for Mullins at Fairyhouse in January, readily beating stablemate Macho Man who could reoppose. Had three lengths at the line, showing a good attitude and finding another gear when challenged. He looks a good one who might prove a tough nut to crack.
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Mares’ Chase – Dinoblue, Spindleberry
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DINOBLUE (13/8) loves Cheltenham, winning this twelve months ago, having finished runner-up the year before. She’ll come into this on the back of successive wins at Fairyhouse and Naas latest and she won the corresponding Naas contest last year en route to her victory in this. She’s sure to make her presence felt.
SPINDLEBERRY (4/1) had looked a high-class performer over fences, winning her first five chase starts, which included a Grade One at Fairyhouse, although she disappointed at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase when last seen and may not have seen out the longer trip. She was up against the likes of Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs though, so her pulled-up effort in that contest can be forgiven. Back at a shorter trip, she could bounce back and might emerge as the main danger to Dinoblue.
Gold Cup – Galopin Des Champs, Gaelic Warrior
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (10/1) won this in both 2023 and 2024 and ran with plenty of credit when beaten into second twelve months ago. He’s not had an ideal preparation for his latest attempt, however, beaten on both outings thus far, including his latest behind Fact To File at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase. He’s a ten-year-old now and will have to defy history if he’s to regain his crown. The last ten-year-old to win the Gold Cup was Cool Dawn in 1998, and while he’s no back number, it is hard to win a race of this nature at his age.
Younger pretender GAELIC WARRIOR (6/1) might prove the pick of Mullins’ squad for the Gold Cup, and the 2024 Arkle winner has been far from disgraced in narrow defeats at Kempton when short-headed into third by The Jukebox Man and Banbridge before finishing runner-up in the Savills Chase at a track that doesn’t appear to suit him, so that effort could be upgraded. He could go to the Ryanair rather than the Gold Cup, but this would appear a more likely target given Mullins has Fact To File in the Ryanair.
Back a Willie Mullins Runner at Cheltenham
Whatever your views on his chances race by race, Mullins’ runners at the Festival command respect across the board. For our full race-by-race ante-post selections — including which Mullins horses we’re backing and which we’re taking on — see the links below.
For the best free bets to use on Mullins’ Festival runners, our Cheltenham free bets guide covers every new customer offer available for 2026. For non-runner protection on ante-post bets — particularly relevant for horses like Lossiemouth and Gaelic Warrior whose targets are still uncertain — see our non-runner no bet guide.
Day by day:
- Cheltenham Day 1 Tips – Supreme, Arkle, Champion Hurdle
- Cheltenham Day 2 Tips – Turners, Brown Advisory, Champion Chase, Champion Bumper
- Cheltenham Day 3 Tips – Mares’ Hurdle, Ryanair, Mares’ Novices’
- Cheltenham Day 4 Tips – Triumph, Mares’ Chase, Gold Cup
Odds correct at time of writing. Prices will move — always check current quotes before betting. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly.
Willie Mullins Cheltenham 2026 Horses FAQs
What is the Willie Mullins banker at the Cheltenham Festival 2026?
DINOBLUE (13/8) would be our idea of the Mullins banker for Cheltenham this year. She loves Cheltenham and won this race in 2025, after finishing runner-up in 2024. She’ll come into this on the back of successive wins at Fairyhouse and Naas.
Will Willie Mullins win the 2026 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
If Mighty Park runs in the race as opposed to the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday, he will be heavily backed and will challenge Old Park Star for favouritism before the off. Willie Mullins has a great record in the Supreme, winning it with superstars such as Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan in the not too recent past.
Will Willie Mullins win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
If Galopin Des Champs regains his Gold Cup crown, it will be one of the greatest moments Cheltenham racecourse has ever seen, but he faces strong challengers from the British duo of The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie. If Fact to File or Gaelic Warrior runs in this race, Mullins will have a great chance of winning another Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Brian joined the team a couple of years ago but he has a long background in writing horse racing content and betting tips. Having worked for a number of publications in the past, such as RacingTips, Brian made the move to thatsagoal and is the main content writer across flat and National Hunt racing.