Willie Mullins
William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956),[1][2] is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey from Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, but is based at Closutton, Muine Bheag, County Carlow, Ireland.
Career
He commenced racehorse training in 1988 [3] having previously worked as an assistant to his father Paddy Mullins and Jim Bolger. Willie is a former six times amateur champion jockey in Ireland, winning the 1983 Aintree Fox Hunters' Chase on Atha Cliath and the 1996 Cheltenham Bumper on Wither Or Which.[4]
He is the trainer of the 2005 Grand National winner Hedgehunter and the 2011 and 2013 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly and trained the horse, Vautour in the 2016 Ryanair Chase. He is also trainer of the six times David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle champion, Quevega.[5] In the 2015 Cheltenham Festival Willie Mullins trained 8 winners which is a joint record at the Cheltenham Festival that Gordon Elliott equalled in 2018.[6][7] He is the leading most winning trainer at the Cheltenham festival and was awarded in their prestigious hall of fame.
Mullins' long lasting relationship with Gigginstown House Stud came to an end on 28 September 2016.[8] Despite this he was the Irish Champion trainer in the 2016/17 season.
Personal life
Willie Mullins has a son, Patrick Mullins, who is currently an amateur jockey riding mainly in Ireland for his father. Patrick is also an assistant trainer to his father. Willie's wife, Jackie, was a successful amateur rider.[9]
Cheltenham winners
Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, with 72 winners
- Cheltenham Gold Cup - (2) Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020)
- Champion Hurdle - (4) Hurricane Fly (2011, 2013), Faugheen (2015), Annie Power (2016)
- Stayers' Hurdle - (2) Nichols Canyon (2017), Penhill (2018)
- Supreme Novices' Hurdle - (6) Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019)
- Arkle Challenge Trophy - (4) Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Footpad (2018), Duc des Genievres (2019)
- David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle - (9) Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Glens Melody (2015), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018)
- Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle - (4) Fiveforthree (2008), Mikael d'Haguenet (2009), Faugheen (2014), Yorkhill (2016)
- RSA Insurance Novices' Chase - (4) Florida Pearl (1998), Rule Supreme (2004), Cooldine (2009), Don Poli (2015)
- Champion Bumper - (10) Wither or Which (1996), Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Relegate (2018), Ferny Hollow (2020)
- Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - (2) Penhill (2017), Monkfish (2020)
- Ryanair Chase - (3) Vautour (2016), Un de Sceaux (2017), Min (2020)
- Triumph Hurdle - (2) Scolardy (2002), Burning Victory (2020)
- Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle - (5) Limini (2016), Let's Dance (2017), Laurina (2018), Eglantine Du Seuil (2019), Concertista (2020)
- National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup - (2) Back in Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018)
- Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - (3) Sir Des Champs (2011), Don Poli (2014), Killultagh Vic (2015)
- Coral Cup - (1) Bleu Berry (2018)
- County Handicap Hurdle - (5) Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020)
- Golden Miller Novices' Chase - (4) Sir Des Champs (2012), Vautour (2015), Black Hercules (2016), Yorkhill (2017)
Other major wins
- Irish Gold Cup -(10) Florida Pearl (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004), Alexander Banquet (2002), Rule Supreme (2005), Kempes (2011), Quel Esprit (2012), Sir Des Champs (2013), Bellshill (2019)
- Punchestown Gold Cup - (5) Florida Pearl (2002), Sir Des Champs (2013), Boston Bob (2014), Bellshill (2018), Kemboy (2019)
- Irish St. Leger - (1) Wicklow Brave (2016)
- Irish Grand National - (1) Burrows Saint (2019)
- Irish Champion Hurdle - (6) Hurricane Fly (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), Faugheen (2016)
- Punchestown Champion Hurdle - (8) Davenport Milenium (2002), Hurricane Fly (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), Faugheen (2015), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Wicklow Brave (2017)
- Punchestown Champion Chase - (5) Micko's Dream (2001), Golden Silver (2010), Felix Yonger (2015), Un de Sceaux (2018,2019)
- Champion Stayers Hurdle - (7) Holy Orders (2003), Fiveforthree (2009), Quevega (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), Faugheen (2018)
- Champion INH Flat Race - (9) Maringo (1995), Cousin Vinny (2008), Lovethehigherlaw (2011), Champagne Fever (2012), Shaneshill (2014), Bellshill (2015), Blow By Blow (2016), Tornado Flyer (2018), Colreevy (2019)
- Herald Champion Novice Hurdle - (7) Hurricane Fly (2009), Blackstairmountain (2010), Faugheen (2014), Douvan (2015), Cilaos Emery (2017), Draconien (2018), Klassical Dream (2019)
- Ryanair Novice Chase - (7) Barker (2009), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Great Field (2017), Footpad (2018), Chacun Pour Soi (2019)
- Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle - (9) Davenport Milenium (2002), Nobody Told Me (2003), Sadlers Wings (2004), Glencove Marina (2007), Mikael d'Haguenet (2009), Un Atout (2013), Vautour (2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Bacardys (2017)
- Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - (8)Holy Order (2001), Quatre Heures (2006), Diakali (2013), Abbyssial (2014), Petite Parisienne (2015), Apple's Jade (2016), Bapaume (2017), Saldier (2018)
- Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle - (5) The Midnight Club (2009), Marasonnien (2012), Killultagh Vic (2015), Bellshill (2016), Next Destination (2018)
- Mares Champion Hurdle - (7) Tarla (2010), Glens Melody (2013), Annie Power (2014,2015), Whiteout (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018,2019)
- Morgiana Hurdle - (10) Padashpan (1993), Thousand Stars (2011), Hurricane Fly (2012, 2013, 2014), Nichols Canyon (2015, 2016), Faugheen (2017), Sharjah (2018), Saldier (2019)
- Royal Bond Novice Hurdle - (8) Alexander Banquet (1998), Hurricane Fly (2008), Zaidpour (2010), Sous les Cieux (2011), Nichols Canyon (2014), Long Dog (2015), Airlie Beach (2016), Quick Grabim (2018)
- Drinmore Novice Chase - (3) Alexander Banquet (1999), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Valseur Lido (2014)
- Hatton's Grace Hurdle - (3) Hurricane Fly (2010), Zaidpour (2012), Arctic Fire (2015)
- John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase - (6) Florida Pearl (2001), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Djakadam (2015,2016), Min (2018, 2019)
- Racing Post Novice Chase - (6) Missed That (2005), Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Douvan (2015), Min (2016), Footpad (2017)
- Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase - (3) Golden Silver (2009), Twinlight (2014), Douvan (2016)
- Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle - (5) Hurricane Fly (2008), Long Dog (2015), Saturnas (2016), Whiskey Sour (2017), Aramon (2018)
- Christmas Hurdle (Ireland) - (3) Mourad (2010), Zaidpour (2013), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016)
- Savills Chase - (2) Don Poli (2015), Kemboy (2018)
- December Festival Hurdle - (7) Hurricane Fly (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Sharjah (2018, 2019)
- Fort Leney Novice Chase - (1) Don Poli (2014)
- Greenmount Park Novice Chase - (6) Financial Reward (2008), Sir Des Champs (2011), The Paparrazi Kid (2013), Outlander (2015), Bellshill (2016), Faugheen (2019)
- Slaney Novice Hurdle - (7) Homer Wells (2005), Mikael D'haguenet (2009), Gagewell Flyer (2011), Briar Hill (2014), Mckinley (2015), Bellshill (2016), Next Destination (2018)
- Arkle Novice Chase - (6) Assessed (2002), Missed That (2006), Golden Silver (2009), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Footpad (2018)
- Dublin Chase - (3) Min (2018,2019), Chaucun Pour Soi (2020)
- Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle - (6) Boston Bob (2012), Pont Alexandre (2013), Sure Reef (2014), Outlander (2015), A Toi Phil (2016), Let's Dance (2017)
- Spring Juvenile Hurdle - (4) Mister Hight (2006) Petite Parisienne (2015), Footpad (2016), Mr Adjudicator (2018)
- Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle - (8) Alexander Banquet (1999), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Bleu Et Rouge (2016), Bacardys (2017), Klassical Dream (2019), Asterion Forlonge (2020)
- Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase - (8) Florida Pearl (1998), J'y Vole (2008), Cooldine (2009), Citizen Vic (2010), Boston Bob (2013), Ballycasey (2014), Outlander (2016), Faugheen (2020)
- Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final - (5) Nobody Told Me (2003), Annie Power (2013), Adriana Des Mottes (2014),Augusta Kate (2017), Laurina (2018)
- Ryanair Gold Cup - (2) Al Boum Photo (2018), Voix Du Reve (2019)
- Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase - (3) Kempes (2010), Sir Des Champs (2012), Valseur Lido (2015)
- JNwine.com Champion Chase - (1) Florida Pearl (1999)
- Galway Plate - (1) Blazing Tempo (2011)
- Galway Hurdle - (3) Mystical City (1996), Clondaw Warrior (2016), Sharjah (2018)
- Grand National -(1) Hedgehunter (2005)
- King George VI Chase -(1) Florida Pearl (2001)
- Tingle Creek Chase -(1) Un de Sceaux (2016)
- Christmas Hurdle -(2) Faugheen (2014,2015)
- Tolworth Hurdle -(1) Yorkhill (2016)
- Clarence House Chase -(3) Un de Sceaux (2016, 2017, 2018)
- Scilly Isles Novices' Chase -(1) Gitane Du Berlais (2015)
- Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle -(1) Apple's Jade (2016)
- Betway Bowl -(2) Florida Pearl (2002), Kemboy (2019)
- Aintree Hurdle -(1) Annie Power (2016)
- Melling Chase -(2) Boston Bob (2014), Min (2019)
- Mersey Novices' Hurdle -(2) Nichols Canyon (2015), Yorkhill (2016)
- Maghull Novices' Chase -(1) Douvan (2016)
- Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil -(5)Nobody Told Me (2003), Rule Supreme (2004), Thousand Stars (2011, 2012), Benie des Dieux (2019)
- Prix Alain du Breil -(2) Diakali (2013), Footpad (2016)
- Grand Prix d'Automne -(1) Thousand Stars (2015)
- Nakayama Grand Jump -(1) Blackstairmountain (2013)
References
- Clower, Michael (2007). Kings of the Turf. London: Arum Press Ltd. p. 39. ISBN 1845132793.
- "Willie Mullins". BBC Sport. 8 April 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- Willie Mullins at Horse Racing Ireland
- "Cheltenham Festival winners". WP Mullins. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- "Cheltenham Festival: Punjabi So Brave For Henderson" dailyrecord.co.uk, 11 March 2009, accessed 11 March 2009
- "Trainer Willie Mullins scoops eighth win to break festival record". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- Peacock, Tom (16 March 2018). "Cheltenham 2018: Final triumph crowns 'golden era' in Irish racing". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- "Willie Mullins and Gigginstown House in split, Gordon Elliott to train Don Poli". At The Races. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- Mullins clan immersed in the business of racing, Irish Times, March 11, 2016.