Willie Mullins Stable Tour

Form profile

A 175-rated chaser, he won the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2019 and finished second to Kemboy in the Punchestown Gold Cup the following month. He made a winning return to action at Tramore in January.

Trainer says

After the preparation we gave him for the Gold Cup last year worked so well, I thought I’d do the same thing again with him. I suppose I’m a creature of habit with things that work. Because of his preparation, he’ll go to the Gold Cup a fresh horse. It can often be hard for old Cup winners to come back to their best after winning it, so keeping him fresh might be a help to him. I don’t necessarily think it’s a stronger Gold Cup this year than last year. He’s in great form and is very much on target.

Form profile

A 147-rated hurdler, he got off the mark over fences in a maiden chase at Fairyhouse in January.

Trainer says

Having talked to everyone at Cheveley Park the other day, I’d say the RSA Chase is his most likely target at this stage. Mind, there are plenty of people here that think he might be better suited to be Marsh, as he can be a bit keen. His next few bits of work will be crucial, as if he gets a bit lit up by his work, the temptation to go for the shorter race will be there.

Form profile

A winning point-to-pointer, he has won two of his three starts in bumpers including a Grade 2 contest at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

He has done everything right so far and looks to have a big chance in the Champion Bumper. He’s a big, chasing type, which is unusual for a son of Jeremy. He has a big cruising speed, which is a big help in the Champion Bumper. The fact that he has plenty of experience will be a positive for him too. He looks to be one of our best chances at the meeting.

Form profile

A 153-rated hurdler, he is unbeaten in a point-to-point, a bumper and both his starts over hurdles including the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

His owner Mr Donnelly has left it up to us to decide where to run all of his horses and we think this lad should go for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. We had originally considered him to be an Albert Bartlett type as he shows us very little speed at home, but he has been brilliant over much shorter trips.

Form profile

A 162-rated hurdler, she is unbeaten in her eight completed starts for Mullins, including the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018, the last two renewals of the Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil in May.

Trainer says

She is entered in the Mares’ Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle. She was very unlucky in the Mares’ Hurdle last year and I’d like to go back there as she has unfinished business there. I believe Rich Ricci mentioned the Champion Hurdle at some stage, but he hasn’t spoken to me about it or any other plans for her! She’s a hell of a mare. What she did in France last year went under the radar here, but it was brilliant.

Form profile

A 146-rated hurdler, he is unbeaten in three starts over fences, winning Grade 3 novice chases at Punchestown and Naas in January.

Trainer says

We picked the National Hunt Chase for him a long way out, but I was a bit surprised the lads didn’t enter him for any of the other novice chases! He gallops and jumps, and I think he has more speed than his appearance suggests he has. He is usually a good jumper but has made a few mistakes in his races. I’d rather he had a bit more experience going to a race like the National Hunt Chase, but if he jumps around cleanly, he looks to have a great chance.

Form profile

A 156-rated chaser, he has won two of his three starts in novice chases and most recently finishing a ¾-length second to Notebook in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

He will run in the Arkle. He reminds me of Un De Sceaux, both in how he is at home and how he races. He just wants to get on with it. If we got soft or heavy ground, it would be a big help to him. He’ll be meeting Notebook again, but I’d be hopeful our fella can improve from Leopardstown and can hopefully make a good go of reversing the form. He has a great attitude.

Form profile

A 172-rated chaser, he has won three of his four starts for Mullins including the Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

He goes for the Champion Chase. He needed the run at Christmas and showed good improvement from that to win at the Dublin Racing Festival. I think he’s progressing all the time. We’ve always thought the world of him, but I did think Min was the one to beat at Leopardstown last time, so it was impressive for him to do what he did. He came out of that race well. While he’s playing catch up in terms of experience compared to his rivals, I’m hoping he’s going to be a big player in the Champion Chase.

Form profile

A 165-rated chaser, he has won all three of his completed starts over fences, but having fallen at the first fence in the Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, he reverted to hurdles to win the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park in February.

Trainer says

The plan is to supplement him for the Champion Hurdle. Our thinking is that he probably has a better chance of being placed in a Champion Hurdle than he would in a Champion Chase. The Red Mills Hurdle gave us a chance to have a look at him over hurdles and we were happy with what he did there. He wasn’t spectacular there, but I really liked what he did from making a mess of the third-last hurdle onwards was impressive.

Form profile

A 154-rated chaser, he won a maiden chase at Leopardstown prior to finishing second to Faugheen in the Flogas Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

He has the Marsh and the RSA as options and it’s still up for grabs I’d say. Better ground would be a help to him, and I’d like to run where we are most likely to get the best ground. We never thought he’d make a chaser, but he is a real natural over fences and looks to have improved for them.

Form profile

A 156-rated chaser, he is a nine-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles that has won all three of his starts over fences this season including two Grade 1 novice chases.

Trainer says

He’s fit and well after his run at Leopardstown. Myself and Rich haven’t spoken about our plans for him yet, that’s the party line! We were delighted that he has been able to come back and win two Grade 1 novice chases at his age. The reaction he got in the stands at Leopardstown was unbelievable. I rarely get moved at a racecourse, but I did there. It was amazing. I haven’t heard Rich’s view with regard to the next step - whether he goes to the Cheltenham Festival at all and if so, which race he prefers there - so I don’t want to say any more than that until I do.

Form profile

A 175-rated chaser, he showed significant improvement last season to win the Savills Chase at Leopardstown, the Betway Bowl at Aintree and the Punchestown Gold Cup. He most recently finished second in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

He goes for the Gold Cup. I was happy with both his runs this season. He needed the run at Christmas and ran a fantastic race at the Dublin Racing Festival. Better ground would be a help to him. If he could finish in the top three or four, I’d be delighted.

Form profile

Made it second-time lucky over hurdles when winning a mares’ maiden hurdle at Limerick in January.

Trainer says

She looks a nice type. She was obviously workmanlike winning a maiden hurdle at Limerick last time, but Paul said she blew up five times! She’s still in the picture for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. She’s been hard to train, and I have very different training regime for her. She looks a lovely mare for the future.

Form profile

A 155-rated hurdler, he has won one of his three starts over fences this season.

Trainer says

I think he’ll go for the March Novices’ Chase. While his jumping is good, it’s not quite good enough for two miles, so the longer trip might well be a help to him. He has finished second at three Cheltenham Festivals, so hopefully he brings his A-game there again.

Form profile

A 171-rated chaser, he is a five-time Grade 1 winner that most recently finished second to Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer says

He’s another one that myself and Rich Ricci haven’t discussed yet, but I’d imagine he’d rather keep him and Chacun Pour Soi apart by running Min in the Ryanair Chase.

Form profile

A winning point-to-pointer, he has won two of his three starts over hurdles, most recently winning a novice hurdle at Thurles by 20 lengths.

Trainer says

He’ll go for the Albert Bartlett I think. That should be an easy decision. He started out the season a green horse, but he’s improved all the way through. He’s a tall, light-framed horse that doesn’t take a lot of training. He might be more so one for next season, but I hope I’m wrong and he runs a big race at the Cheltenham this season.

Form profile

A 162-rated hurdler, he is a three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles and won the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

Trainer says

He’ll go for the Champion Hurdle. His last run was terrible. He missed the first hurdle down the back at Leopardstown and we don’t know why he did it as his jumping is excellent. Other than that, we couldn’t find any other reason for him. Better ground is important to him. I’d imagine Patrick will ride him.

Form profile

A 149-rated hurdler, she has won her last three starts including two Grade 3 contests.

Trainer says

She’ll go for the Mares’ Hurdle and I was impressed with her latest win. We tend to let her do whatever she wants to do, though she got taken on for the lead the last day and she settled better than she might have in the past.

Form profile

A winning point-to-pointer, he has won a bumper at Punchestown and a maiden hurdle at Naas this season.

Trainer says

Having had a chat about it this morning, I think we will aim him at the Ballymore. He’s coming along very nicely. When you look at him physically, you wouldn’t be worrying about him this year, as he looks one for next season really. I hope he runs well at Cheltenham obviously, but he really should be a better horse over a fence next season. That said, I wouldn’t be shying away from Envoi Allen with him either.

Form profile

A 168-rated chaser, he is a nine-time Grade 1 winner over fences that gained his latest win in the BoyleSports Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival in April.

Trainer says

His connections are very keen to go for the Champion Chase with him. He still retains a huge amount of ability for his age. I’d love to see lots of rain for him. We got the tactics wrong with him in the Ryanair Chase last year and again in the Clarence House last time. I’d say Patrick could well ride him in the Champion Chase, but it’s a very tough race this year.