Willie Mullins Dominates Entries for Cheltenham Festival

Willie Mullins has asserted his authority once again by securing nine out of the 15 horses confirmed for the prestigious Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

The revered Festival maestro, boasting an unrivalled record of seven wins in the event, has lined up a formidable squad, spearheaded by the favourite Ballyburn. Tullyhill and Mystical Power are also making waves in the betting arena, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown as Mullins contemplates his final selection. Notably, both Ballyburn and Mystical Power are considering a potential appearance in the newly-titled Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle the following day.

In addition to the standout contenders, Mullins has also retained Anotherway, Asian Master, Gold Dancer, Ile Atlantique, Mistergif, and Supersundae for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with some of them holding entries in alternative races.

Crossing the Irish Sea, Gordon Elliott’s Firefox, who previously bested Ballyburn, is among the leading contenders from the Emerald Isle, alongside prospects like Slade Steel from Henry de Bromhead’s yard and Kings Hill from Paul Gilligan’s stable.

On the British front, the trio of Alan King’s Favour And Fortune, Nicky Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet, and Tellherthename from Ben Pauling’s camp adds further intrigue to the mix.

In a contrasting scenario, the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy presents a more competitive field, despite Closutton-based horses dominating the entries. The likes of Il Etait Temps, Hunters Yarn, Gaelic Warrior, and Facile Vega from the Irish stable are set to face off against strong contenders like Found A Fifty (Elliott), Quilixios (De Bromhead), and the impressive JPR One from Joe Tizzard’s team.

Elsewhere, the Ultima Handicap Chase has attracted 43 hopefuls, with Eldorado Allen leading the pack under the Tizzard stable, while Meetingofthewaters emerges as a strong contender aiming to secure Mullins’ maiden handicap chase victory at the Festival.

Ireland’s leading trainer also flexes his muscle in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, with the odds-on favourite Lossiemouth headlining a 13-strong field that includes formidable opponents like Marie’s Rock (Nicky Henderson) and Love Envoi (Harry Fry).

The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle sees the likes of Lark In The Mornin (Joseph O’Brien), Batman Girac (Mullins), and French entrant Milan Tino (Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm) vying for top honours among the 43 hopefuls, while a select group of 10 contenders are in line for the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase, with Embassy Gardens and Corbetts Cross, trained by Maureen’s son and grandson respectively, leading the charge.