Willie Mullins' stable tour ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival
Mullins spoke to Racing Post this weekend
Read exclusive quotes about Galopin Des Champs, State Man, El Fabiolo and more
Willie Mullins lifting the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. (Getty)
Willie's Cheltenham Squad
Top Chances
Ballyburn (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
Dinoblue (Mares' Chase)
El Fabiolo (Champion Chase)
Facile Vega (Arkle, Turners or Browns)
Fact To File (Turners or Brown Advisory)
Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup)
Lossiemouth (Champion Hurdle or Mares' Hurdle)
State Man (Champion Hurdle)
Novice Hurdlers
Absurde (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
Asian Master (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
Billericay Dickie (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
Bunting (Triumph Hurdle)
Dancing City (Albert Bartlett)
Ethical Diamond (Triumph Hurdle)
Fun Fun Fun (Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
High Class Hero (Albert Bartlett)
Ile Atlantique (Baring Bingham)
Jade De Grugy (Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
Kargese (Triumph Hurdle)
Loughglynn (Albert Bartlett)
Majborough (Triumph Hurdle)
Mistergif (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
Mystical Power (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
Predators Gold (Baring Bingham or Albert Bartlett)
Quai De Bourbon (Albert Bartlett)
Readin Tommy Wrong (Baring Bingham or Albert Bartlett)
Sa Majeste (Coral Cup or Martin Pipe)
Storm Heart (Triumph Hurdle)
Bumper Horses
Fleur Au Fusil
Jasmin De Vaux
Maughreen
You Oughta Know
Older Hurdlers
Ashroe Diamond (Mares' Hurdle)
Echoes In Rain (Champion Hurdle or Mares' Hurdle)
Gala Marceau (Mares' Hurdle)
Sir Gerhard (Stayers' Hurdle)
Novice Chasers
Embassy Gardens (Brown Advisory or National Hunt Chase)
Gaelic Warrior (Turners or Brown Advisory)
Hunters Yarn (Arkle)
Il Etait Temps (Arkle)
Minella Cocooner (Brown Advisory or National Hunt Chase)
Nick Rockett (Turners, Browns or National Hunt Chase)
Sharjah (Arkle or Turners)
Older Chasers
Allegorie De Vassy (Mares' Chase)
Appreciate It (Champion Chase or Ryanair)
Capodanno (Ryanair)
Monkfish (Stayers' Hurdle or Gold Cup)
Willie Mullins spoke to Racing Post this weekend. Read key quotes about his possible runners at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
*All quotes attributed to Racing Post*
Willie Mullins Cheltenham Festival 2024 Stable Tour
Top Chances
Ballyburn (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
He's been very impressive. He's in the Supreme and the Baring Bingham. Pedigree-wise and looking at him I'd be thinking Baring Bingham, but looking at his race record I'd be thinking the Supreme. His owners Ronnie Bartlett and David Manasseh haven't shown a preference so they're very happy to go wherever we decide to go. I'm not going to call it now.
Dinoblue (Mares' Chase)
The best bit of work she ever did was in the lead up to the Dublin Racing Festival and I'm hoping she'll continue to improve over the next few weeks. She made a few uncharacteristic mistakes in the Grand Annual last year. Two and a half miles in the Mares' Chase shouldn't be any problem given her pedigree.
El Fabiolo (Champion Chase)
He was very good at the Dublin Racing Festival and I thought that day, given the piece of work Dinoblue did leading up to the race, that if he missed a beat he'd be in trouble and this mare would be on top of him. But, he didn't miss a beat and was just so good. Most people probably thought he'd be that good anyway, but when I saw the piece of work Dinoblue did I thought he'd have to be in some order to beat her. I just hope he hasn't peaked before the Champion Chase.
Facile Vega (Arkle, Turners or Browns)
He's been a disappointment and Paul [Townend] said he's just not back to his best yet. He's been frustrating so I'm working on a different training plan for him. With his pedigree he could run in the Arkle, Turners or Brown Advisory. We'll see after his last couple of bits of work where we stand.
Fact To File (Turners or Brown Advisory)
He's in the Brown Advisory and the Turners. He's done everything right and has put in a huge trial for either race. I've always been leaning towards the Brown Advisory, but I'm just wondering what other horses in those colours are going in that direction. His speed figures are fantastic. I've had two different speed men tell me that. One of those guys told me that when he won his beginners' chase his speed figures were huge. They were going some lick down the back straight at the Dublin Racing Festival and he just kept on jumping and galloping right to the line.
Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup)
He's come out of the Irish Gold Cup very well and we're happy. It’s going to be a tip-top Gold Cup, but he's in great form and has enjoyed being ridden more prominently on his last few starts. I had wanted him ridden off the pace for two years before that because he was too keen and I felt he’d get drawn into a battle. This year I don’t mind how he's ridden. He’s stronger and more mature now, and I think he’ll be up for it.
Lossiemouth (Champion Hurdle or Mares' Hurdle)
She hasn't done anything wrong and I know a lot of people would like her to go for the Champion Hurdle, but I'm not sure she'd be going down that route even if there wasn't a Mares' Hurdle. Five-year-olds win a Champion Hurdle once every 25 to 30 years, and usually in a bad year. This doesn't look a bad year. Five-year-olds just can't lie up and are not physically strong enough. She did everything right at Cheltenham the other day and maybe she is stronger, but she'll have her chance in the next couple of years to have a go at the Champion Hurdle. We'll let State Man soften Constitution Hill up first.
State Man (Champion Hurdle)
He's in great order. His performance at Christmas was huge against Impaire Et Passe, who was much more competitive there than he was the other day at the Dublin Racing Festival. He's going to be really race-fit. Nicky Henderson might not think so, or Constitution Hill fans might not think so, but I think we're stronger this year.
Paul Townend riding Galopin Des Champs win The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. (Getty)
Novice Hurdlers
Absurde (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
He ran a cracker at Leopardstown. He wants good ground and there's every chance he could go to Cheltenham. We might be better off keeping our powder dry for Fairyhouse and Punchestown, however, but I'll have a word with the owners and see.
Asian Master (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
I'd imagine he'll take his chance in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and he has every right to. He's a slick hurdler and has shown a lot of ability. Before he came to me and I would have thought he'd be going down the hunter chase route on pedigree, so he's been a bit of a revelation.
Billericay Dickie (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
I'm not sure Cheltenham would suit him. I was surprised he won like he did at Punchestown as I thought he would've preferred way better ground.
Bunting (Triumph Hurdle)
He stayed on great at Leopardstown as he didn't jump well enough in that ground. I was very taken with how he stayed on.
Dancing City (Albert Bartlett)
He had been disappointing me, but now everything has come right. Obviously a step up in trip and nicer ground is what he needed. He goes to the Albert Bartlett with a chance.
Ethical Diamond (Triumph Hurdle)
He needs another run to qualify for the Boodles and it's getting tight to squeeze that in, so he might just go straight to the Triumph Hurdle. I thought he finished very well at Leopardstown. I asked Michael to get him jumping and settled and see what he can do in the last half mile. With his Flat performances, he should be a leading contender for the Triumph Hurdle. Better ground in the spring will hopefully suit.
Fun Fun Fun (Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
She was very good at Exeter. She was keen, however, and I'm not sure Cheltenham will be ideal for her. We'll have a think about it but she just might be too keen and lively in the parade ring. There might be easier options at home.
High Class Hero (Albert Bartlett)
I'm very happy with the way his season is going. David Casey picked that race at Thurles and he came through that trial lovely.
Ile Atlantique (Baring Bingham)
My preference all along has been the Baring Bingham, and unless something happens he's going for that. I'm very happy with him. He put up a tremendous performance at Naas when he was beaten by Readin Tommy Wrong. He did all the donkey work and Daryl was very cute on Readin Tommy Wrong and coasted in behind him and just pounced. We can change tactics and ride more of a race at Cheltenham.
Jade De Grugy (Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
She's been very impressive and goes for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. She jumps well and there doesn't appear to be any chink in her armour.
Kargese (Triumph Hurdle)
She was very good the last day and settled well so I'd imagine it'll be on to the Triumph Hurdle now.
Loughglynn (Albert Bartlett)
He just didn't jump well from the start at Leopardstown. He's normally a good jumper so I don't know what went wrong. He was just disappointing on the day, but we'll just have to put a line through it. Whether he goes for the Albert Bartlett, I'm not sure.
Majborough (Triumph Hurdle)
He ran a cracker at Leopardstown. Every time I see him, I think of the Gold Cup rather than the Triumph Hurdle. I was surprised at what kind of individual he was when he arrived from France. He's not a tall, typical juvenile hurdler. He could be a bit like Douvan in that he might just be fully developed. He'd be in the top couple of picks from my juvenile team and will improve plenty from Leopardstown.
Mistergif (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
He's on the list for Cheltenham and there's every chance he'll go.
Mystical Power (Supreme or Baring Bingham)
I've been very, very pleased with what he's shown us over two miles. With his pedigree, he could be a two-and-a-half miler or even further, but he's shaped more like a two-miler. That wasn't what he looked like in his home work, but he's a late developer. Mark rode him in his last bit of work before he was supposed to go to Naas, and was amazed at how much he'd improved. The Naas race was put back a week, so we switched to the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown. He was very good there and we were very happy. You'd have to think Supreme.
Predators Gold (Baring Bingham or Albert Bartlett)
I imagine he'll go to the Baring Bingham. He was too keen at Leopardstown and may just need different headgear to settle him, but they'll be going at a much faster pace in that race which will suit him well.
Quai De Bourbon (Albert Bartlett)
It'll be either the Albert Bartlett or the handicap route with him.
Readin Tommy Wrong (Baring Bingham or Albert Bartlett)
He has the stamina to go for the Albert Bartlett and the class to go for the Baring Bingham. It's a nice position for Simon and Isaac to be in.
Sa Majeste (Coral Cup or Martin Pipe)
I went to Limerick thinking he wouldn't handle the ground, and then I thought Noble Yeats had an off day, but maybe he didn't. He's a fair horse.
Storm Heart (Triumph Hurdle)
He ran well at Leopardstown when second in the Spring Juvenile. He'll be in the Triumph with a chance.
Paul Townend riding Ballyburn (red cap) bypass the last flight of hurdles to win The Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. (Getty)
Bumper Horses
Fleur Au Fusil
She's surprised me with her two victories, and won very well at Leopardstown. She's a lovely mare. The owners would like to go to Cheltenham so she might take her chance.
Faugheen (Maughreen's half-brother) won his bumper at Punchestown by 22 lengths and I know Maughreen only won by 11, but I think Patrick took a pull after I gave out to him for winning so far on Faugheen. She'll improve the whole way to the festival.
You Oughta Know
I thought that was a hell of a run at Leopardstown. He was giving weight away and didn't get a great position early on. He's going to run some race in the bumper at Cheltenham.
Older Hurdlers
Ashroe Diamond (Mares' Hurdle)
She goes for the Mares' Hurdle and she did a nice job at Doncaster. I didn't expect her to improve so much at Doncaster.
Echoes In Rain (Champion Hurdle or Mares' Hurdle)
She's in the Mares' Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. If it looks like there's only going to be five or six in the Champion Hurdle she might take her chance.
Gala Marceau (Mares' Hurdle)
She ran well in the Triumph Hurdle last year and I thought she ran well at Doncaster. She’ll have every chance in the Mares' Hurdle, although it'll be a big ask.
Sir Gerhard (Stayers' Hurdle)
He'll go for the Stayers' Hurdle. He's in good shape. He was a little sore after his last escapade over fences but is coming round.
Mark Walsh riding Fact To File (green approach the last to win The Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown. (Getty)
Novice Chasers
Embassy Gardens (Brown Advisory or National Hunt Chase)
I'd have to favour the National Hunt Chase. He's in the Brown Advisory, but again that's up for discussion. He's in good shape and has come out of Naas in good order.
Gaelic Warrior (Turners or Brown Advisory)
He was very free on his way down to the start and was on edge in the parade ring at Leopardstown. He may have just boiled over. Going left-handed didn't suit him. He's a bit down in himself but I find that with good horses when they get beaten. A bit like boxers, they don't like it and get disappointed. We'll try to have him right for Cheltenham. The Turners was what we were thinking and he still has all the options, but the way he jumps and the speed at which he jumps, I certainly wouldn't have any problems putting him into a two-mile race going right-handed. We'll see.
Hunters Yarn (Arkle)
He's in the Arkle Challenge Trophy, but maybe a domestic campaign might be more suitable. We'll see nearer the time.
Il Etait Temps (Arkle)
I'd imagine he's Arkle-bound. Danny [Mullins] got on great with him at the Dublin Racing Festival so I think that going for the Arkle is going to be an easy enough decision to make.
Minella Cocooner (Brown Advisory or National Hunt Chase)
I don't think the race at Navan worked out ideally. Danny set out to make it and Gordon Elliott's horse was on the inside. He wasn't wrong to go on the outside but he got stuck going too fast. I'm putting a line through that run, but I'm not sure Cheltenham would be his cup of tea either. He might stay at home as he gets very wound up.
Nick Rockett (Turners, Browns or National Hunt Chase)
We were a little bit disappointed not to win at Navan, but American Mike is a fair machine on his day. He's entered at Cheltenham, but we might keep him at home.
Sharjah (Arkle or Turners)
He'll probably go to Cheltenham as he always runs well there. He has the option of the Arkle or the Turners.
Older Chasers
Allegorie De Vassy (Mares' Chase)
Paul said to change work-riders and sometimes the smallest little things can make a difference. Paul just felt maybe she hadn't been doing enough. I was very happy with her improved performance at Naas and she'll go to the Mares' Chase.
Appreciate It (Champion Chase or Ryanair)
He could go to the Ryanair and hopefully we can get him back to his best. He's just been disappointing this season and he's one where I've had to change something at home.
Capodanno (Ryanair)
The only race he's in is the Ryanair. It's been mentioned (supplementing for the Gold Cup), but he has other options like Aintree. He could have a crack at the Ryanair and then go on to Aintree, but we'll see when the weights come out next week.
Monkfish (Stayers' Hurdle or Gold Cup)
He's in the Stayers' Hurdle and the Gold Cup and I'm thinking if enough rain comes we seriously have to consider the Gold Cup. He's got the class and I was happy he came back in good order at Gowran, albeit over hurdles. I'm going to prepare him for the Gold Cup. We'll have a word with Rich and see what his preference is, but the horse is in great order. Is he as good as he once was? I haven't asked him all those questions, but I thought he went a long way towards answering that question at Gowran. Come Cheltenham he'll be better again.
