The Cheltenham Festival’s leading trainer Willie Mullins has a strong team again this year led by 2019 Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo.
With many top horses in contention, including Faugheen, Chacun Pour Soi and Un De Sceaux, it is highly likely he will be adding to his 65 successes.
He has won The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at six of the last nine meetings and sent out a record-breaking eight winners in 2015.
Mullins has built up a formidable team of horses at his Co Carlow base and has been Ireland’s champion trainer for the last 12 seasons.
Here are a couple of talking points as he ran through his team from Closutton on Wednesday:
Bullish of another big run from Al Boum Photo
(Image: PA)
For many the eight-year-old was a shock winner of the Gold Cup in 2019, at odds of 12/1.
Although he arrived with an unexposed profile, he had enough to find on the ratings.
But he scored well to give Mullins a first Gold Cup after several luckless attempts.
However, now he has won one, he has plenty of confidence the chaser can emulate Kauto Star – the only other Gold Cup winner to get his title back.
“I think he has a fantastic chance,” the trainer said.
No decision made over Faugheen
The evergreen ‘machine’ does not have a Festival target set in stone, Mullins said earlier.
The 12-year-old’s success on February 2 raised the roof at Leopardstown and he is twice a winner at the world famous meeting.
“He is well after his run in Leopardstown, but myself and Rich (Ricci, owner) haven’t spoken about it (Cheltenham),” Mullins said.
“Rich actually text me last night because he knew the press were coming this morning and he said to me ‘do remember we haven’t spoken about it’!
“I was delighted that he was able to come back and win two Grade Ones and he’s been in great shape since his last run.
“I couldn’t get over the reaction in the stands in Leopardstown. If I was ever moved at a race meeting – and I’m not normally – that was the day.
“He got the best reception I’ve ever seen.”
Un De Sceaux to run in Champion Chase
It looks one of the races of the meeting on paper, with former two mile king Altior, in-form Defi Du Seuil and high-flying stablemate Chacun Pour Soi all set to lock horns.
The highly anticipated three-way clash has not deterred owner Edward O’Connell though, in the aftermath of fellow veteran Faugheen’s recent exploits.
Un De Sceaux has run in the Ryanair Chase for the past three seasons, winning it in 2017.
He was last seen over the minimum trip there the year before, when he was odds on, but had no answers to a resurgent Sprinter Sacre.
“My connections are very keen to go to the Champion Chase with Un De Sceaux,” he said.
“”He still retains a huge amount of ability at his age. I’d love to see lots of rain for him – I think that will be crucial.
“I think part of the plan could be for Patrick (Mullins) to ride him. It’s probably going to be his last hurrah in Cheltenham.”
