How many winners will Willie Mullins have at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival?

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Willie Mullins has dominated the Cheltenham Festival for almost 15 years, establishing himself as one of the most successful trainers in the history of the event. Since 2011, Mullins has claimed the Leading Trainer accolade an impressive 11 times, including the last six consecutive years. His historic nine victories in 2024 saw him surpass 100 Cheltenham winners, making him the first trainer ever to achieve this remarkable feat and a regular favourite for those who bet on horse racing.

Mullins’ recent run of six straight Leading Trainer titles has yielded a staggering 42 winners, averaging seven victories per year, including a record-breaking 10 wins in 2022. 

As the 2025 Festival approaches, all eyes will be on Mullins to see how many winners he can saddle next March. Let’s delve into the numbers and try to predict just how dominant he will be this time around.

Arkle – Ballyburn

Mullins has won the Arkle for the last two years in a row with El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior, and Ballyburn has a fantastic chance of making it a hat-trick. 

The six-year-old produced arguably the best performance at last year’s Festival when winning the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle by 13 lengths, and he has the making to be a fantastic chaser. 

Mares’ Hurdle – Lossiemouth

Another of Mullins’ nine winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Lossiemouth won the Mares’ Hurdle with relative ease from Telmesomethinggirl.

While the five-year-old is the 9/4 favourite to retain her Grade 1 title in March, connections haven’t ruled out taking on Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle—which is a whole different ball game. 

Turners’ Novice Chase – Maughreen

Maughreen has been seen on the racecourse just once to this point, winning a Mares Flat Race at Punchestown by an astonishing 11 lengths from Harrys Annie. 

The five-year-old is set to go over the smaller obstacles this season, and she clearly made a good impression on that debut, as she’s the 3/1 favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on day three.

Ryanair Chase – Gaelic Warrior

Gaelic Warrior was one of the redemption stories of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, bouncing back from a disastrous outing at Leopardstown in February to win the aforementioned Arkle comfortably. 

Mullins has won three of the last five renewals of the Ryanair Chase, and if Gaelic Warrior’s jumping is up to scratch, he can make it six victories overall in the contest for his trainer.  

Triumph Hurdle – Willy De Houelle

Another exciting recruit out of France for Mullins and esteemed owner Rich Ricci, Willy De Houelle won on debut at Compiegne by four lengths before finishing second in a Listed race at Auteuil. 

He’s yet to even make his first appearance for Mullins but has already been smashed into favouritism for the Triumph Hurdle, a race that is popular with French imports.  

Gold Cup – Galopin Des Champs

Before 2019, Mullins had never won the Gold Cup. However, he’s landed four of the last six renewals and another victory this season would see him become the race’s joint-most successful trainer. 

That’s not all. If Galopin Des Champs can defend his crown for a third successive time, he’ll join an incredible roll of honour that includes the likes of Best Mate and Arkle. 

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With the runners outlined, as well as the likes of Redemption Day, Dancing City, Jasmin De Vaux, and others more left field, you’d expect Mullins to have at least six winners at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.