With the milestone of 100 winners in his sights next week the trainer admits the pressure to succeed is always there
Trainer Willie Mullins with defending Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at his yard in Closutton, Co Carlow. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho“Don’t worry,” Willie Mullins says quietly at his kitchen table, “we think about this too because the game needs to be healthy. The game needs people coming into it.” The great Irish trainer is only days away from next week’s Cheltenham Festival and his expected domination will raise yet more questions about its impact on the sport he loves.
Yet Mullins is nervous before Cheltenham. “It’s the same apprehension. Will we get a winner? Is this the year we have a blowout? Last year we had six winners and some people were disappointed because they thought we’d break our hundred with a dozen winners. We managed to win the Gold Cup and Champion Chase but the expectation is so heavy.”
Last month Mullins won nine out of 15 at the Dublin Racing Festival and, incredibly, all eight Grade One races. “I never dreamed we’d do that. I was hoping for one or two, maybe three if things went really well. Even as it was happening it didn’t sink in until someone said: ‘You’ve won the eight Grade Ones.’ Our jockey, Paul Townend, had a bad fall early in the day and I said let’s take it race by race. That’s my focus.
Mullins adds: “So much went wrong and the mare, Grabel, was caught in quarantine. But she still won this million-dollar race. It was extraordinary and down to Ma. She was the driving force.” “I said to Jackie: ‘If we sell him we’ll just be selling trainers the rest of our lives’. I had a feeling this fellow could go the whole way.”
Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill was the one horse expected to beat Mullins next week but he has been withdrawn after a minor illness. Betting for the Champion Hurdle is now headed by State Man, another Mullins horse. He sounds philosophical rather than jubilant: “When my father had Dawn Run going for the Champion Hurdle she was second favourite behind Gaye Brief. News then came through that Gaye Brief wouldn’t make it.
In the intervening years Mullins just grew stronger and O’Leary eventually returned. “Yes,” Mullins notes. “The fact we not only survived but got to where we are now is amazing.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Miriam Mullins Eliminated from Dancing with the StarsMiriam Mullins, the second celebrity to be eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, opens up about her emotions and the difficulties of returning to normal life.
Read more »
Tributes paid to racing matriarch Maureen Mullins after her death aged 94Co Kilkenny woman helped build up legendary training business along with her late husband Paddy
Read more »
Win A Trip To Cheltenham By Being Ireland’s Best CommentatorDermot & Dave have joined forces with Ladbrokes to find Ireland’s Next Best Racing Commentator.There's always a great buzz around Cheltenham!
Read more »
Cheltenham vox pop: ‘If he reproduces his Christmas performance at Leopardstown, he’ll lap them!’Some celebrity advice for making next week’s Cheltenham festival pay
Read more »
Half a century after first Cheltenham win, Mouse Morris pursues more Gold Cup gloryCheltenham 2024: ‘The fact that it is four days has diluted the racing enormously, which is terribly sad’ – Edward O’Grady
Read more »
Ireland’s top jockeys busy in weekend action ahead of Cheltenham festivalMinella Cocooner in €100,000 Leinster National one of five rides for champion jockey Paul Townend prior to biggest week of the year
Read more »