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Willie Mullins will saddle FIVE odds-on favourites at the Dublin Racing Festival

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Last updated: 28 Jan 2025
jon-vine
Jon Vine 28 Jan 2025
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  • Willie Mullins is poised to dominate the Dublin Racing Festival
  • Mullins has 22 of 27 horses with strong odds in Grade One races
  • Key horses like Galopin Des Champs have odds-on favorites
willie mullins leopardstown
Willie Mullins poses at Leopardstown Racecourse. (Getty)

Willie Mullins looks set to dominate the Dublin Racing Festival again this weekend, with Ladbrokes quoting odds-on prices about five of his horses in the Grade Ones.

The Dublin Racing Festival has very much turned into the Willie Mullins show in recent years. Mullins runs all of his big guns at Leopardstown, not only because the races at prestigious and the prize money is good, but also because the timing fits in perfectly with the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

In 2024, Mullins saddled the winners of all eight Grade One races, with the likes of Galopin Des Champs, State Man and Ballyburn claiming impressive victories. Bookmakers Ladbrokes are taking no chance this year, and already listed five of Willie's big guns at odds-on prices.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said, "Willie Mullins completely dominates the betting for this year's Dublin Racing Festival, and the likes of Galopin Des Champs and Gaelic Warrior are only expected to shorten further in the betting between now and the weekend."

Mullins' dominance goes a lot deeper than just the five odds-on favourites. 27 horses are currently listed at 8/1 or shorter in the Grade Ones at the Dublin Racing Festival. 22 of those are trained by Willie Mullins.

Gavin Cromwell's Hello Neighbour is the joint-favourite with Mullins' Saint Lucie in the Juvenile Hurdle. Monty's Star and Touch Me Not are 8/1 shots for the Irish Gold Cup and Irish Arkle respectively. On Sunday, Better Days Ahead is 8/1 to beat Ballyburn in the 2m5f Novices' Chase, and Barry Connell's Marine Nationale is 4/1 to take down Gaelic Warrior in the Dublin Chase.

Willie is currently operating at a 30% strike rate, compared to 17% for Elliott, 11% for Cromwell and just 6% for De Bromhead. Taking everything into account, it would actually be a surprise if any other trainer won a Grade One at Leopardstown this weekend, apart from the Champion Trainer. 

Willie Mullins' odds-on favourites at Dublin Racing Festival


Majborough to win the Irish Arkle Chase - 4/7
Galopin Des Champs to win the Irish Gold Cup - 4/6
Ballyburn to win the Ladbrokes Novice Chase - 4/7
Gaelic Warrior to win the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase - 4/6
Lossiemouth to win the Irish Champion Hurdle - 4/7

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