WINNER WILLIE IS TOP EARNER
WILLIE Mullins has pocketed more than €862,000 at the Cheltenham Festival in the past 10 years – more than any other trainer.
The Co Carlow handler has been the king of Prestbury Park for much of the last decade, being crowned top trainer at the meeting six times since 2011.
A study from horseracing.net found Mullins earned €862,470 between 2009 and last year.
In the same period, top English trainers Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls earned €728,147 and €471,680 respectively.
Mullins has earned over three times more at the meeting than his biggest rival in Ireland, Gordon Elliott, who pocketed €274,677 in the same period. The Meath trainer was Gordon Elliot crowned top handler at the meeting in both 2017 and 2018 before Mullins regained his title last year.
The survey calculated the total winnings of every horse that’s competed in the festival over the last 10 years and associated 10% of the winnings to the trainer to arrive at the findings.
Surprisingly given the domination of Irish trainers at the famous meeting in recent years, the study found English trainers won more money (€3million) than those from here (€2.1million).
Maestro Mullins also has another very strong team assembled for this year’s festival, which is scheduled to get under way on March 10.
The 13-time Irish champion trainer is responsible for a number of favourites, but his best chance of a winner looks to be Benie Des Dieux on the opening day.
Speaking about her at a recent stable tour at his Closutton base, Mullins said: “She was very unlucky loser in the Mares’ Hurdle last year and we might go back and get a bit of unfinished business done.” Another of his leading chances is
Willie Mullins
Al Boum Photo, who is aiming to win the Gold Cup for the second consecutive year.
He added: “I think he has a fantastic chance.”
Six Number of times Mullins has been Cheltenham top trainer since 2011