CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: WILLIE MULLINS REFLECTS ON HIS 10 FESTIVAL WINNERS IN 2025 Friday 14th March Legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins capped off another sensational Cheltenham Festival by matching his own record of 10 winners in a single meeting — a feat he previously achieved in 2022. With this year’s results, Mullins has now trained a record-breaking 113 Cheltenham Festival winners and was crowned Leading Trainer for the 12th time — further cementing his place in Festival history. Speaking after Gold Cup Day, Mullins reflected on a remarkable week for his stable: “It has been a fantastic week. Anytime you…
Author: Michael Thompson
It was fitting that Ireland should have four winners on St Patrick’s Thursday at Cheltenham, with the final winner coming via Daily Present (12/1) and Barry Stone-Walsh in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. It was a first Cheltenham Festival winner for the twenty-five year old amateur jockey on what was his first ever ride in Britain. The Paul Nolan-trained winner had a neck to spare over the well-backed 9/2 favourite Johnnywho in the colours of J.P. McManus. Wexford handler Nolan said: “He is a stayer, but he was too free in the race last year. The ride that…
Jodi Townend claimed her first Cheltenham Festival win courtesy of Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. The 4/1 winner gave champion handler Willie Mullins a 14th success in the race, with Irish-trained horses achieving a trifecta in the day’s final race. Lisgoold, Co Cork rider, Townend admitted to being “on cloud nine” following the win on only her third ride at the Cheltenham Festival, adding: “I can’t believe it – it will take a long time to sink in! I was in front plenty soon enough, she was on the way with me coming down the hill…
At 1.20pm on Tuesday afternoon, the ‘Cheltenham roar’ will be heard in the Cotswolds, as the 2025 Cheltenham Festival gets underway. The opening contest on day one is the Grade 1 Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over 2 miles 87 yards. Named this year in honour of the recently deceased Lombardstown, Co Cork, rider, the race will be poignant coming so shortly after the jockey’s death just a few weeks ago. Champion handler Willie Mullins is responsible for half the 12-runner field, with main stable jockey Paul Townend unsurprisingly choosing the race favourite Kopek Des Bordes. Owned by Charles McCarthy…
The Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, registered as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, sees Lossiemouth among the field instead of taking her place in the Unibet Champion Hurdle. This year is the 18th running of the race, which Irish trainers have dominated since its inception – 14 of the 17 previous winners were trained in Ireland. A Grade 1 race since 2015, the Mares’ Hurdle was won an incredible six consecutive years by Quevega, bettering the previous Cheltenham Festival record of five consecutive wins held by Golden Miller (1932 to 1936). Willie Mullins has won 10 of the 17…
Nicky Henderson, the most successful trainer in the history of the Unibet Champion Hurdle with nine wins – See You Then (1985, 1986 and 1987), Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010), Buveur D’Air (2017 & 2018), Epatante (2020) and Constitution Hill (2023) – will hope to claim another on Tuesday with stable star Constitution Hill. There had been speculation for much of the past few months that Lossiemouth might challenge the 2023 winner in this year’s renewal – especially after her impressive win in the Grade 1 Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. Her heavy fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle,…
Majborough’s task has been made much easier in the Arkle Novices’ Chase due to the absence through injury of Sir Gino. The J.P. McManus-owned son of Capital Stud’s Martinborough won last season’s Triumph Hurdle, but returns this year as a novice chaser. A win in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse was soon followed up with success in the Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. The Race iQ information shows that Majborough is a better chaser than hurdler. His Jump Index over the smaller obstacles last season was 7.7, while his overall Jump Index over fences…
Player props are an exciting way to bet on NFL games without worrying about the final score. Instead of betting on which team wins, you wager on individual player performances—like passing yards, rushing attempts, or even touchdowns. These bets allow you to focus on specific matchups, player trends, and game scripts, making them popular among sharp bettors and casual fans alike. What Are NFL Player Props? Player prop bets revolve around statistical performances in an NFL game. Rather than backing a team, you’re betting on an individual’s output. Sportsbooks set over/under lines on a variety of categories, allowing bettors to…
Gaelic Football Rule Changes for 2025: Everything You Need to Know The Standing Committee on Playing Rules has proposed several rule changes for the 2025 Gaelic football season. These updates, if approved, will impact kick-outs, advanced marks, player positioning, scoring, fouls, and discipline. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes and their potential impact on the game. 1. Kick-Out Mark – More Protection for Players A major change to the kick-out mark rule ensures better protection for players making a clean catch. A player who catches a kick-out mark may play on immediately without being challenged within four metres. If…
Inothewayurthinkin Heads Strong Irish Entries For 2025 Grand National An Irish-trained horse has won five of the last six renewals of the Grand National at Aintree, and with some strong entries this year, there is a good chance Ireland could continue to dominate the world’s most famous steeplechase. Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins, multiple Grand National winner Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead all have entries in the Aintree feature. It includes Inothewayurthinkin, who with an official rating of 160, is one of the highest-rated horses in the race. Grade One Winning Chaser Looking for More Success at Venue Inothewayurthinkin…