Champion Trainer on both sides of the Irish Sea, top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival, and Grand National Winner – 2024 was quite the year for Willie Mullins. In a season to live long in the memory, one of Mullins’ most remarkable achievements came at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF). Eight Grade 1s took place at the two-day fixture at Leopardstown, and Mullins won them all!
It’s fair to say that when Mullins does well at a major meeting, the bookmakers generally don’t. Having been on the receiving end of a barrage of Mullins multiples in 2024, the layers have every right to feel a little apprehensive ahead of the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival. Surely Mullins couldn’t do it again, could he?
Probably not, but then again, the master of Closutton appears to have recovered from a sticky festive period, and a look through his entries for the Grade 1 events may be enough to send a shiver down the collective spine of the bookies.
Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, Saturday, 1st of February
Having caused a 16/1 shock with Dancing City in 2024, Mullins is responsible for six of the remaining 18 entries, including the top three in the market. The unbeaten Walk In The Park gelding Final Demand leads the way, having hacked up by 15l last time out at Limerick. Fairyhouse scorer Sounds Victorious comes next, followed by Supersundae, who ran well to finish second in a Grade 1 at Naas last time.
Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, Saturday, 1st of February
With six wins in the past decade, including the last three editions, Mullins has been a tough nut to crack in this event for the youngsters. With five entries, he is responsible for 33% of the remaining 15 runners.
The pick of the bunch looks to be the Rich Ricci-owned Sainte Lucie. Following an 11 length rout at Punchestown on her yard debut, Mullins summed up the display by stating the mare “looks one out of the top drawer.” Ominous words for her rivals.
Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase, Saturday, 1st of February
Il Etait Temps made it four wins in a row for Mullins in the 2024 edition of this 2m1f affair. Majborough and Ile Atlantique hold an entry for the 2025 renewal, with the market suggesting the former is more likely to take up this engagement. Going in the colours of Tony Bloom, the seven-year-old is two from two this season and posted a career-best effort when slamming the talented Firefox last time out at Naas.
Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase, Saturday, 1st of February
As we move deeper into a new season, some things change, whilst others remain the same. The staying chase division falls into the latter category; dominant for the past two seasons, Galopin Des Champs continues to reign supreme. Having put the reopposing Fact To File (also trained by Mullins) in his place in the Savills Chase, the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup king is odds on to win this race for a third time.
Ladbrokes Novice Chase, Sunday, 2nd of February
Fact To File didn’t need to be at his best when claiming this prize for Mullins in 2024, with sole rival Gaelic Warrior running abysmally before unseating at the last. Hopefully, the 2025 edition will be a little more competitive, but it will be a surprise if Mullins doesn’t come out on top for the sixth time in 10 years. Five of the top six in the market hail from his County Carlow yard, headed by 2024 Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle winner and current Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase favourite, Ballyburn.
Tattersalls Novice Hurdle, Sunday, 2nd of February
Nowhere has the Mullins’ dominance been so strongly felt as in this contest. In landing the 2024 edition, Ballyburn became the 11th Mullins-trained winner in the space of just 12 years.
Gordon Elliott is the only other trainer to get a look in over this period and sends the talented Romeo Coolio into battle. However, he will need to be at his best to conquer the promising Mullins duo of Kaid d’Authie and Kopek Des Bordes, whom Mullins labelled a “tip-top animal” following his easy win at this track in December.
Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, Sunday, 2nd of February
King George VI Chase hero Banbridge heads the entries for the DRF equivalent of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. However, the Joseph O’Brien star sits only third in the betting behind two runners hailing from the yard of, you guessed it, Willie Mullins.
Dual Queen Mother winner Energumene scored by 10l on his long-awaited return in the Hilly Way Chase last time, but it is Rich Ricci’s impressive 2024 Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior who currently tops the market.
Irish Champion Hurdle, Sunday, 2nd of February
The final Grade 1 of the meeting is shaping up to be a cracker. It may also be one of the toughest contests for Mullins to win. State Man bids for a third successive victory in this but was over 30l behind the sensational Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead in the Neville Hotels Hurdle last time out.
Brighterdaysahead would appear to have the measure of State Man but has yet to face fellow Mullins runners Lossiemouth or Anzadam. We know all about Grade 1 star Lossiemouth, who has tasted defeat only at the hands of Constitution Hill in her last seven starts. She should go well, but the lightly raced Anzadam could be the fly in the ointment. Unbeaten in France and an impressive 6l winner on yard debut, could the son of Authorized be the next star of the Closutton production line?