Willie Mullins has set the bar incredibly high over the years, but even by his lofty standards, the achievements of 2023/24 were truly spectacular. Champion trainer at the Cheltenham Festival; he threw in a win in the Grand National for good measure before having the cheek to win the Champion Trainers Title on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Unfortunately for his rivals, that level of dominance shows little sign of diminishing. Now into the early stages of 2024/25, gale-force Mullins is blowing as strong as ever. Already past the €1 million prize money barrier in his homeland, he is yet to unleash his full squad on British shores, but rest assured, when the biggest prizes roll around, Mullins will be the man to fear.
At many yards, we need to hunt around for a stable star or two. Not so at this County Carlow operation, where every other stable seems to house a genuine Grade 1 talent. Nevertheless, here we highlight those runners who have shone brightest and outline those we hope will provide our horse tracker with a steady stream of winners.
Stable Stars
Ballyburn
A winner of a Point-to-Point, two Bumpers, and four hurdles, this formidable talent now steps out onto the Novice Chase scene. One of the easiest winners at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, when sauntering away with the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, he rounded off the season with a third Grade 1 in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. Making his return in a Beginners Chase at that track in November, he carried on where he left off with an effortless 13l success. He’s the clear market leader for the Arkle Chase and Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, and whichever route he takes, he will likely take some stopping.
Energumene
Six-time Grade 1 winner, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2022 and 2023. Missed all of last season through injury but is now reportedly fit and firing. Could he bag a third Queen Mother at eleven years of age?
Fact To File
Another star of Cheltenham 2024, Fact To File bolstered his burgeoning reputation with a smooth success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Setting off in open company this season, he made the perfect start to claim a red-hot edition of the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. The Savills Chase looks like the next logical step before a tilt at Cheltenham Gold Cup glory – a race for which he is now favourite.
Gaelic Warrior
Three-time Grade 1 winner who produced a big career best to claim the Arkle Chase by an easy 8½l. Impressively, those top-level triumphs have come over 2m, 2m3½f and 3m. That versatility gives Mullins plenty of options for the season ahead, but the Queen Mother Champion Chase or Ryanair Chase look the most likely long-term targets.
Galopin Des Champs
Fact To File may have his eye on the Gold Cup, but Galopin Des Champs has been there and done it twice. He was no match for his younger stablemate in the John Durkan Chase, but following defeat in the 2023 edition of that race, he went on to win the Savills Chase, Irish Gold Cup, and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Still only eight years old, he has solid claims of joining the illustrious list of three-time Gold Cup winners.
I Am Maximus
Having won the Irish Grand National off a mark of 149 in 2023, this JP McManus runner made light of a 10lb higher mark to sprint 7½l clear in the 2024 edition of the Aintree spectacular. He’ll be higher again this year but is the clear market leader for the 2025 event.
Lossiemouth
A four-time Grade 1 winner at just five years of age, this Rich Ricci mare has already delivered on her lofty reputation and likely isn’t finished yet. Having missed the Morgiana Hurdle with a minor injury, she is set to return in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, with all roads leading to the Champion Hurdle.
Mystikal Power
A late-developing sort who still managed to pick up Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown in his Novice Hurdle campaign. With another summer on his back, he may emerge as a big threat in open Grade 1 contests over 2m.
State Man
In Constitution Hill’s absence, this fleet-footed hurdler claimed his first Champion Hurdle crown in 2023/24. Backing that up with victory in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, his Grade 1 tally now sits at a magnificent 10. He lost his unbeaten record at Punchestown on his seasonal return but may have needed the run that day. Expect to see him laying down his familiar challenge at Leopardstown, Punchestown, and Cheltenham.
Eleven for the Horse Tracker
Nine stars, but it would have been pretty easy to double that number. Narrowing the list of runners to track was similarly tough, but hopefully, the following 11 will contribute to the Mullins winning machine in 2024/25.
- Chapeau De Soleil – Point winner who landed three of four starts over hurdles but always looked likely to make a better chaser. Considering he scored in Listed company over the smaller obstacles, he looks a likely type to progress to Grade 1 Novice Chase company.
- Final Demand – Walk In The Park gelding who won his Point-to-Point by six lengths. He may ultimately be seen to best effect over fences, but that needn’t stop him from flying high in his Novice Hurdle campaign.
- Fun Fun Fun – Despite often looking like a difficult ride, this Simon Munir & Isaac Souede mare has picked up wins at Listed, Grade 3, and Grade 2 level. Those victories all came at around 2m, but her pedigree suggests she may thrive when stepped up in trip. If taking to fences, she could be a Novice Chaser to follow in the staying division.
- It’s For Me – Also going in the double-green of Simon Munir & Isaac Soude, this six-year-old looked like a horse to follow when breaking his duck over hurdles in November 2023. Unfortunately, an injury meant we saw no more of him in 2023/24. However, that Maiden Hurdle form has since worked out well, with the runner-up Caldwell Potter rounding off his season with a Grade 1 win at Leopardstown.
- Karniquet – Having shown useful form in France, this son of Kapgarde joined Mullins on the 21st of November. Just five days later, he hacked up by 11l in a maiden hurdle, which Mullins has won with Gaelic Warrior and Laurina in the past. One to follow in the Novice Hurdle division.
- Majborough – Good enough to win the Triumph Hurdle but a chaser in the making. Skips his open hurdle campaign to tackle Novice Chases and has the tools to go far.
- Maughreen – By Walk In The Park and related to Faugheen on the dam side, Maughreen delivered on her pedigree potential when landing her bumper by 11 lengths. She was well fancied for the Champion Bumper following that display, only to miss the remainder of the campaign following a setback. Reportedly back fit and firing, she sets out over hurdles this term.
- Murcia – By Doctor Dino, out of a Poliglote mare, and landed a Listed event by 12l on her final start in France. Joining the Mullins yard in June 2024, she’s an exciting addition to the juvenile hurdles squad.
- Redemption Day – Still lining up in Bumpers at seven years of age, Redemption Day boasts an unusual profile. However, the pick of his Bumper form is excellent. In his final start of 2023/24, he sprinted away from The Yellow Clay to claim the Grade 1 Bumper at the Punchestown Festival. The Yellow Clay is two from two in his hurdles campaign, including a 10l romp in a Navan Grade 3.
- Salvator Mundi – Beaten only 1¾l by the talented Sir Gino during his time in France, this No Risk At All gelding was pitched into the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle on his first start for the yard. That proved too much too soon, but he displayed his considerable engine when winning a Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary by a staggering 62 lengths. Still only four, he may be bound for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
- Supersundae – Half-brother to the Grade 1 winning Supasundae, who boasts a similar profile to Salvator Mundi. He found the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle too hot on his debut for the yard but hacked up when up in trip next time out at Ballinrobe. With that win coming in May, he remains a Novice and looks the sort to progress to Grade 1 company.
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
Paul Harrison
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