Cheltenham Festival 2026: How Many Winners Will Willie Mullins Train?

With 113 Cheltenham Festival winners, Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of National Hunt racing’s showpiece meeting. He notched his first victory at the Festival back in 1995 and the Closutton master has been crowned Leading Trainer at the meeting in 12 of the last 15 years.

Mullins has been relentless in recent times, notching 35 winners in the past four years at the meeting. While some have suggested that his Cheltenham squad is weaker than in previous seasons, 13 Mullins-trained horses sit atop the Cheltenham Festival Odds markets at the time of writing. I’ve looked at the general landscape of each race and have landed on a total of EIGHT (10/3) winners for the yard. Scroll down for my musings on Mullins’ best chances.

KOPEK DES BORDES - Arkle

I’m a huge fan of KOPEK DES BORDES and I think he has the natural ability to overcome his lack of experience over fences. Lulamba is the right favourite on form but I’d say that Kopek Des Bordes could be destined for the very top.

Throw KARGESE and potentially KAPPA JY PYKE and SALVATOR MUNDI into the mix and that gives Mullins a very strong hand. The former is almost certain to turn up here and she will have the services of Danny Mullins onboard.

Much has been said about Kopek Des Bordes having only one chase start but there’s no doubting his talent. He is a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner so has form at Prestbury Park and he is one of my strongest Cheltenham Tips in the Arkle.

MAJBOROUGH - Champion Chase

With Marine Nationale ruled out of the meeting on Tuesday morning, we have a short priced favourite in MAJBOROUGH and he finally put it all together at the Dublin Racing Festival. A repeat of anything close to that performance will be enough.

There are doubts over whether IL ETAIT TEMPS handles Cheltenham and that is a fair enough question given he is 0-4 at the track. However, he remains near the head of the betting and he certainly can’t be discounted at this stage.

It looks like L’Eau Du Sud and Quilixios are likely to be the main rivals to the Mullins pair and it would be a turn up for the books if either of those are good enough.

Mares' Hurdle

While Wodhooh looks a tough nut to crack, LOSSIEMOUTH beat her easily enough at Aintree last April. If the Rich Ricci-owned grey turns up here, she is undoubtedly the one they all have to beat and she could be set for a 10th Grade 1 success.

Even if connections go for gold with Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle, JADE DE GRUGY was second in the Mares' Hurdle last year and she’ll have a massive chance of going one better – especially with Paul Townend in the saddle.

I’m 50/50 on which race Lossiemouth will go for at this stage but I’m willing to chalk this one down as a Mullins winner. Given his preference to ‘go for the race you can win’, this may ultimately be where she ends up.

Turners Novices' Hurdle

They’re talking about MIGHTY PARK as if he’s the next superstar and it’s not every day that Willie Mullins compares to a once-ran horse to a great like Faugheen. Sometimes, you just need to take note and follow the noise.

If the occasion gets the better of him, Mullins has a strong hand waiting in the wings – with the likes of KING RASKO GREY and SOBER lined up for the race. The latter would interest me, he’s a classy animal and he will have no issue with the trip.

Obviously the dynamic changes if Mighty Park goes elsewhere but it sounds like they’re leaning this way at the moment and I’d be happy to take on the field with the Closutton trio if he lines up.

Bambino Fever - Mares' Novices' Hurdle

It sounds like every man and his dog at Closutton are expecting BAMBINO FEVER to reverse form with Oldschool Outlaw and I’m starting to buy into the hype despite being sceptical a few months ago.

The 2025 Champion Bumper form has worked out well and she was more accomplished over hurdles the last day. She reportedly took a while to come to hand and she looked in desperate need of the run on hurdles debut.

It doesn’t look the strongest race on paper and Bambino Fever could end up going off a very short price. She’s the one to beat for me.

Ryanair Chase

I’m a firm believer that FACT TO FILE will run in the Ryanair and if he does, he will win with a clear round of jumping. The same goes for GAELIC WARRIOR – who should be too good for his rivals if he is the Closutton runner in the race.

I’ve been sweet on Heart Wood as an each way prospect for this race all season long but it would be a huge surprise to see him prevail. The drying ground gives Banbridge a squeak if he runs but Aintree is likely the priority for him at this stage.

Triumph Hurdle

Willie Mullins has dominated this race in recent years and he has three of the market leaders in PROACTIF, SELMA DE VARY and MACHO MAN. The Closutton master may have lost Narciso Has to injury but he still has a stranglehold on the division.

The British have a poor record in recent renewals but Maestro Conti and Minella Study are two competent opponents. While the Mullins battalion look difficult to beat, you could make a case for either runner in Friday’s opening race.

Having said that, Mullins knows what it takes to win this race and another success in the Grade 1 juvenile race looks likely to me.

Mares' Chase

DINOBLUE is a red-hot favourite but Mullins also has SPINDLEBERRY and you’d have to fancy the pair against the field. Dinoblue won last year’s race and the drying ground will only enhance her chances of going back-to-back.

Panic Attack may be the main danger after her impressive display the last day while I’m also keen on the chances of Only By Night. She has been trained for this race all year and Gavin Cromwell seems confident enough that she will stay the trip.

All being well, Dinoblue has the rating to follow up last year’s success and she has been touted as one of Closutton’s bankers of the week on the Festival preview night circuit.