The 2023/24 National Hunt campaign belonged to Willie Mullins, with the Closutton maestro mopping up major prizes on either side of the Irish Sea at a scarcely credible rate; nine winners at the Cheltenham Festival, five at Aintree (including the Grand National), a Scottish Grand National, and a bet365 Gold Cup… the Mullins machine could not be stopped!
When all was said and done, Mullins had accumulated a whopping £3,326,135 in total prize money on British soil to become the first Irish-based winner of the British Trainers’ Championship since the legendary Vincent O’Brien achieved the feat in 1954.
Spectacular achievement as that was, that performance is consigned to the history books, with the slate wiped clean for all ahead of the latest season. Can Mullins repeat the feat in 2024/25, or will a member of the home team step up to repel his assault? As ever, the battle to become Champion Trainer will provide an intriguing subplot to the latest National Hunt campaign, but most agree the winner will emerge from the following quartet of training powerhouses.
Willie Mullins
Where else can we begin other than with the defending champ? Champion 18 times in Ireland, Mullins is all but impossible to stop in the race to become Ireland’s Champion Trainer. But, having secured the double in 2023/24, can he do it again? It would take a brave man to bet against him.
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Willie Mullins becomes the first Irish-based trainer to win the UK Jumps Trainers Championship since Vincent O’Brien in 1954 🏆🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/AxeNyUKzHG
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) April 27, 2024
In terms of pure firepower, no operation comes close to the talent housed in County Carlow. Mullins won’t match the home contingent when it comes to the number of winners, but what he does have is a squadron of stars ready, willing and able to take aim at the season’s most valuable contests, which, in a race decided by total prize money, is what really matters. With the winners of the Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle, the Arkle Chase, the Mares’ Hurdle, the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the Champion Bumper, the Triumph Hurdle and the Grand National under his care, if Mullins decides he really does want to win it again, he may take some stopping.
Dan Skelton
Despite the firepower at his disposal, Mullins is not the betting favourite to be crowned Champion Trainer in 2024/25. That honour falls to a man yet to win the title – Warwickshire’s Dan Skelton.
You had to feel a little for Skelton last season. Having tried for years to reel in former boss Paul Nicholls, he finally achieved his goal – only to be undone by something which hadn’t occurred since 1954. Nevertheless, £2,983,657 in total prize money was good for second in 2023/24, and the fiercely competitive Skelton will be determined to go one better this year.
Rocketing out of the gate, Skelton’s focus on the summer months has contributed to a prize money total of £571,209 – over £550,000 ahead of Mullins in the early stages. Will that prove to be enough of a buffer? Possibly, as Skelton has a number of big guns to go to war with in the major events to come, including Ryanair champ Protektorat, Turner’s Novice Chase hero Grey Dawning, and the admirable Langer Dan.
Paul Nicholls
Only third in 2023/24, Nicholls nevertheless knows better than most what it takes to lift the Champion Trainers’ title. Successful 14 times in the past, he needs just one more championship to draw level with the legendary Martin Pipe.
The days of Kauto Star, Denman and Master Minded sweeping all before them may now be a fading memory, but Nicholls continues to preside over a yard which is the envy of most. Bravemansgame and Pic D’Orhy are established top-level stars, whilst much is expected of recent recruit Caldwell Potter and the unbeaten youngster Regent’s Stroll.
Only around £450,000 adrift of Mullins in 2023/24, if Nicholls is able to unearth just one new superstar and enjoy a more profitable Cheltenham Festival than last season, he may well go close.
Nicky Henderson
Between 2005 and 2023, if Paul Nicholls didn’t win the Trainers’ Championship, Nicky Henderson did – with only a few interruptions, the pair held a vice-like grip on many of the biggest prizes. That dominance has now been shattered, but it would be unwise to underestimate a man with six championships to his name and an impressive array of talent across the board.
Constitution Hill, of course, tops the bill. Can he return to the two-mile hurdle summit on his return from injury? If anyone can get him back, Henderson can, but the Lambourn handler has far more strings to his bow. Jonbon continues to be one of the best in the business over fences; Sir Gino remains unbeaten and might well be the horse to take up the baton from Constitution Hill, whilst the yard boasts an abundance of riches in the novice chase division. An elusive success in the Grand National remains high on Henderson’s wish list, but don’t be surprised to see him go close in this thrilling four-way battle for the trainers’ title.