Cheltenham Festival

That Races That Willie Mullins Will Have His Eye On At The 2025 Cheltenham Festival

Admin By Admin January 21, 2025
willie mullins

Last season’s UK Champion Trainer, Willie Mullins, who is also historically prolific at the Cheltenham Festival will be hoping that it is ‘business as usual’ again this time around as we edge closer to arguably the flagship event in the horse racing season.

Personally, I’m just as intrigued by how it will go this year for him and, it could be argued that this around it is more competitive than ever for him. He and jockey Paul Townend also became one of a select few last season to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season and, there is certainly a big chance that they can at least retain one of these crowns.

Without a doubt though, I think, compared to previous years the Gold Cup, barring any major upset, is a foregone conclusion – pretty much like in 2024 with the irrepressible Galopin des Champs the clear favourite – his odds of evens (1/1) are already quite generous. I’d expect these to drop quite heavily over the next few weeks.

It is also worth noting that he is also hedging this with four other selections and I think the real value here would be punting on a clean sweep for him in terms of places. If you assume that everyone else is battling for second, the places could make an intriguing selection in the betting market.

I really don’t think a Mullins clean sweep is likely – the competition is too fierce from other trainers, though a 1-2 with Galopin des Champs and Fact To File – actually the current second-favourite at 4/1 could yield great value for you – I’d actually be looking at this if you wanted a decent return in the race from a modest punt.

Where Else Aside From The Gold Cup?

There is a strong chance, if everything turns to gold, that Mullins could come into the flagship race, already as the lead trainer for the week. Currently, he has no less than 20 possible entries in the first race of the week (I suspect this will decrease) – the Supreme Novices Hurdle, with the five-year-old and impressive Salvator Mundi the current 7/2 favourite.

I’m intrigued by the Mares’ Hurdle which has an interesting field. Despite Brighterdaysahead being the current favourite at 6/4 after he produced a shock win in November up against odds-on favourite and Mullins-trained State Man, the next two favourites I think stand a better chance. Lossiemouth (Mullins) at 6/4 I suspect is where most of the action will be, though if you are looking for some value, Kargese (again Mullins) at 3/1 could be worth a punt. Don’t rule out a Mullins one-two here.

Now, how much of an upset would it be if Mullins rocked the applecart in the Champion Hurdle? The clear odds-on favourite is the sublime Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill at 4/6, though Lossiemouth at 4/1 and State Man at 11/1 (certainly the latter is great value), will be ready to pounce if Henderson’s horse isn’t, ah ‘at the races’. I’m looking at this from a value perspective though here.