Cheltenham Festival leading trainer review

Once more it was a Willie Mullins-led domination at the Cheltenham Festival as the record-breaking Irishman got into double digits at the four-day showpiece for the second time in his career.

Mullins helped himself to the first four races on Gold Cup Day to storm into double figures, but hopes of setting a new benchmark floundered as Galopin Des Champs surrendered the Blue Riband crown.

Mullins' hurdlers to the fore

It was over hurdles that the Mullins team shone brightest this year, with six winners.

It all began in the best possible fashion as Kopek Des Bordes justified hot favouritism to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in good style.

Lossiemouth's defection to the Mares' Hurdle proved a masterstroke as she made short work of that Grade 1 on the opening afternoon but there was pain, too, as State Man hit the floor at the final flight with the Champion Hurdle his for the taking at the time.

It would be Friday before another Grade 1 prize over timber landed, 100/1 debutant Poniros landing the Triumph Hurdle before Jasmin De Vaux stormed up the hill to land the Albert Bartlett and remain unbeaten at the Cheltenham Festival.

Further hurdles successes for the Closutton team came via Jimmy Du Seuil in the Coral Cup and Kargese in the County Hurdle.

Fever catches in the bumper

Across the four days Mullins saddled a whopping 76 runners at Cheltenham, with 22 of them making the first four home in their respective races.

Five Mullins contenders faced the starter in the Champion Bumper, and it was Bambino Fever that ensured it was six wins in the last seven years and a record-extending 14th overall for the yard.

Jodie Townend had won on the mare at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, impressively, and her partner was eventually sent off 4/1, shortest of the Mullins contingent, after Patrick Mullins had made it known he was on Copacabana but could not have got down to the weight to ride Bambino Fever.

She was produced with a strong run up the hill to get the better of the John McConnell-trained Heads Up.

File prepared for Ryanair rout

Fact To File started this season with Gold Cup aspirations but a couple of defeats behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown since Christmas saw those being shelved.

Instead, the JP McManus-owned contender was aimed at the Ryanair Chase and he turned that intermediate Grade 1 into a procession under Mark Walsh to earn his second consecutive Festival win.

Mullins also scored a Festival win with Dinoblue in the Mares' Chase for McManus, while Lecky Watson was a shock winner of the Brown Advisory.

There was to be no third Gold Cup for Galopin Des Champs and Mullins couldn't quite hit the 11-marker, but he emerged from Cheltenham 2025 with 113 Festival winners and having been crowned top trainer for the 12th time.

Cromwell's golden touch in the Cotswolds

For Gavin Cromwell, this was a Cheltenham Festival to remember. He landed the biggest prize of all with Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup, adding to Stumptown's success in the Cross Country.

He also saw Sixandahalf (Mares' Novices' Hurdle), Robbies Rock (Fred Winter), Brides Hill (Mares' Chase), Thecompanysergeant (Plate) and Only By Night (Arkle) finishing second in a brilliant week as his 26-strong team produced 11 top-four finishes.

Nicky Henderson and Henry De Bromhead were the only other trainers that managed multiple winners, both with two, while Gordon Elliott, Dan Skelton, Paul Nicholls, Barry Connell, Jeremy Scott, Paul Nolan, Rebecca Curtis, Joseph O'Brien, Sam Curling, Cian Collins, Lucinda Russell and Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero were all on target with one winner apiece.

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