Ranking Willie Mullins’ stable stars for the 2024-25 jumps season
The new National Hunt racing season is underway, and all roads lead to the prestigious Cheltenham Festival in March. While some of the big names in the sport have already rolled out some of the yard’s big names—like top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott—the indomitable Willie Mullins is still holding his cards very close to his chest and not giving much away in the ante-post horse betting.
With nine Cheltenham Festival winners helping him become the first trainer to surpass the 100 barrier, his first Grand National success in almost 25 years, and a maiden British Champion Trainer triumph, it will be hard for Mullins to top last season, but we know by now never to write the master of Closutton off.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at four of Mullins’ biggest stable stars for this thrilling 2024-25 National Hunt racing campaign.
1. Galopin Des Champs
Galopin Des Champs is, without a doubt, Mullins’ biggest attraction once again this season, as he looks to write his name in the history books.
The eight-year-old has won the last two renewals of the Gold Cup, beating Bravemansgame and Gerri Colombe with relative ease, and is out to land a historic hat-trick in the Cheltenham showpiece.
Galopin Des Champs is currently the 7/2 favourite in the Gold Cup ante-post market, with stablemate Fact To File his biggest rival at 4/1.
2. Ballyburn
Ballyburn was one of the most exciting novice hurdlers in the entire sport last season, leaving Prestbury Park in awe when winning the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle by 13 lengths.
Mullins still has punters second-guessing what route the six-year-old will take this campaign, as he holds entries over both the smaller and larger obstacles.
Fences look like the more likely choice at the time of writing, and Ballyburn is the favourite for the Arkle—which was won by his stablemate Gaelic Warrior last season.
3. Lossiemouth
State Man has been Closutton’s standout two-mile hurdler over the last couple of seasons, with his success in the 2024 Champion Hurdle in the absence of Constitution Hill was a crowing moment.
However, the seven-year-old faces serious competition from stable companion Lossiemouth this year as the Rich Ricci-owned mare looks set to take on the big boys.
Winner of eight of her nine outings over the smaller obstacles, including in convincing fashion in the Mares’ Hurdle in March, Lossiemouth is the favourite for the Champion Hurdle at the time of writing.
4. Gaelic Warrior
The aforementioned Gaelic Warrior is another one worth following this season, as he steps up to open company from novice contests last season.
Second-favourite and one of four Closutton horses in the top six of the ante-post market for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Gaelic Warrior will need to jump a lot better this campaign.
The six-year-old won three of his five outings last season, including two Grade 1s. But his jumping was often put under the microscope and proved costly on a couple of occasions.