IT’S that time of the year again.
You look down at the racecard and the first name you point at is Willie Mullins.
The Irish trainer, 64, loves the Cheltenham Festival. He holds the record for the number of Festival winners at a staggering 72.
And you can count on that growing this week, it’s more a case of how many by.
Amazingly Mullins trains 14 favourites or joint-favourites this week. There are only 28 races.
Down the years Ruby Walsh, the winning-most rider in Festival history with 59, has walked back in to countless famous Cheltenham receptions on greats like Faugheen, Hurricane Fly and Quevega, to name just a few.
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Now it’s Paul Townend with the pressure of being number one jockey to the Closutton juggernaut.
But with Monkfish, Chacun Pour Soi and Appreciate It all to partner this week, he’s the envy of all jockeys on both sides of the Irish sea.
Up until two years ago, the Gold Cup was the one big race that had eluded Mullins and his star-studded team down the years.
Now he’s hunting his third in a row with superstar Al Boum Photo.
At 1-5 to be top trainer yet again, this year could well be another of Mullins domination.
Punters, whether seasoned or once-a-year, will pile Mullins’ stars into multiples and sit back with their fingers, arms and legs-crossed.
Year after year the bookies fear the worse, and this time looks no different.Coral’s David Stevens said: “With more Cheltenham Festival winners to his name than any other trainer, it’s not surprising punters are happy to put their faith in Willie Mullins this week.
“And the Irish champion is once again responsible for some of the hottest favourites over the four days, all of which will attract plenty of cash.
“Even the loss of fancied runners such as Energumene and French Aseel hasn’t stopped us making Willie long odds-on to be crowned leading trainer once again, and as always, a good week for Mullins will mean a bad week for the bookies.”
Mullins’ first Festival success as a trainer came back in 1995 when Tourist Attraction triumphed in the Supreme at 25-1.
Back then, those in attendance probably weren’t aware of what they witnessed.
Mullins has gone on to win the Grade 1 another five times for good measure, with stars like Douvan and Champagne Fever on the roll of honour.
This year Appreciate It is red-hot favourite and the unbeaten hurdler could make it number 73 in the very first race.
In the following heat, the Arkle, Energumene would have been a huge threat to Shishkin had he not been ruled out lame. But fear not, there is plenty more Mullins firepower.
Concertista won the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at last year’s Festival and she’s odds-on to triumph again in Mares’ Hurdle this time.
Day two can start with another Mullins firework. Gaillard Du Mesnil is fancied up against Bob Olinger and Bravemansgame in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
But it’s in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – formerly the RSA – where the big guns really come out to play.
The green and pink silks of Susannah and Rich Ricci have felt the highs and lows of the Festival like no other – from the agonising falls of Benie Des Dieux and Annie Power, to the latter gaining redemption in the Champion Hurdle.
And in Monkfish and Chacun Pour Soi, the Riccis have two of this year’s talking horses.
Monkfish has scared off most of his rivals in the Brown Advisory, while Chacun Pour Soi is the one to beat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Ruled out late in the day through injury last season, the crack two-miler has only tasted defeat once in seven starts for Mullins.
Altior, Nube Negra and Politologue all have the Mullins’ ace to beat and at this point, if the Irish maestro has already bagged four winners, it would be no surprise.
The Champion Bumper, the finale on Wednesday, has been a good hunting ground for Mullins – he even rode one to win it in his days as an amateur jockey.
And with Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard vying for favouritism this year, Mullins could add to his already brilliant ten wins in the race.
Thursday, traditionally St Patricks’ Day at the Festival, looks one of the quieter days for Closutton.
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But a quiet day for Mullins can still bring in a winner or two.
Allaho is favourite for the Ryanair Chase, while Hook Up has a huge chance in the Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
Friday is judgement day. Can Al Boum Photo match the legendary Best Mate with his third Gold Cup in three years?
“Two years ago I had given up on the dream of winning a Gold Cup at all and I thought about giving up,” Mullins once joked.
Whether Al Boum Photo wins a famous third or not, we could be about to witness yet another four days of Mullins magic. Strap in.
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