Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history and should have another good week at the famous four day meeting in the Cotswolds next week.

The Festival’s biggest race, The Gold Cup, has always eluded Mullins but that could change this year. 

He has a trio of lively candidates, Kemboy, Al Bourn Photo and Bellshill, as well as an outsider in Invitation Only.

Kemboy caught the eye as a young horse and is currently one of the most progressive chasers in Britain and Ireland.

Mullins was quoted by Martyn Thomas of The Mirror, “The ground in Leopardstown at Christmas, where Kemboy put in a huge performance, was very, very good. If it comes up like that on the fourth day at Cheltenham, which it can, he must have a very good chance and the further he’ll go, the better he’ll be.”

He continued, “I think Al Boum Photo shouldn’t have any problem with the trip. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

Bellshill and Invitation Only have both won on their only outings in 2019.

“Bellshill has lots of stamina, he jumps particularly well,” said Mullins. “That’s a huge plus for him. We can see him improving all the time. He’s always gone on soft or heavy and I took a chance running him on the ground the other day but I felt we had to and he’s by Kings Theatre, they love good ground and he can handle it well, even though he’s a big, heavy type of horse.

He added, “Invitation would probably have to step up a good bit.”

One of Mullins best chances of the meeting comes on day one, Tuesday, with Benie Des Dieux in the Grade 1 OBLG Mares’ Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. Mullins’ legendary mare Quevega created a Cheltenham record by winning this race six times in succession and Benie Des Deux can begin following in her footsteps. She upset Apple Jade last year and the latter looks likely to be going the Champion Hurdle route this year which will make it easier for her. Ben Des Dieux hasn’t been seen on the track since winning at the Punchestown Festival in April last year. However, that was the way Quevaga used to do it. In the last five years of her career, Quevega only ran twice a season, at Cheltenham and Punchestown. In those ten runs she was only defeated once, in her final race at Punchestown. So it should be no problem for Benie Des Deux to be running fresh.  

On the same day Mullins has a good chance with Ballyward in the Grade 2 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase over three miles and seven-and-a-half furlongs. Mullins must think highly of Ballyward as he is his only entry and is the current second favourite. His son Patrick is likely to take the ride. Ballyward was last seen winning a Grade 3 novice chase over three miles in decent fashion and he can go close here in a race that will all be about stamina. He is by the stamina influence Flemensfirth out of a mare who won over three miles.

On the Wednesday Uradel will have a fine chance in the Grade 3 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Mullins sent out Bleu Berry to victory in last season’s Coral Cup, Uradel is entitled to be heading the betting at the moment. He is entered in a few handicaps over the four days, but the Coral Cup looks an ideal fit for a horse that finished second in a Cesarewitch on the Flat and warmed up for this race with a decent fifth place finish in a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over a trip on the sharp side.

On the Thursday Mullins has Min in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase over two miles and four furlongs. He might well run here in preference to taking on the top class Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. A winner over 2m 4f at Punchestown this season, Min lacks the pace needed at Championship level over two miles, so the Ryanair is ideal for him and with question marks hanging over Cyrname’s participation then this classy performer can strike gold on the third day of the festival.

Also on the Thursday Mullins has Faugheen in the Grade 1 Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles. Paisley Park is the favourite after romping the Cleeve Hurdle. The latter is an exciting stayer but Faugheen is the forgotten horse in the field and could cause a minor upset. Faugheen was the star hurdler a few years ago and won the Champion Hurdle in memorable fashion. However, following a litany of injuries he has fallen down the pecking order. A faller when trying to close down Apple’s Jade at Leopardstown over Christmas, the horse once dubbed ‘The Machine’ can bounce back to form and be a major player over three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle on March 14. His last win was in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle over this same three mile trip at the Punchestown Festival last year. In that race he beat the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle winner Penhill by 13 lengths, so his form over this trip is good.

Mullins will have less runners than usual at this Festival but still brings over a string of about 40. He has had 61 Festival winners, one more than his English contemporary Nicky Henderson.

By David Thiselton