‘I’ve had the perfect week’ – Mullins savours another Gold Cup success
Champion trainer felt the pressure of Galopin Des Champs’ status as favourite but his charge’s stamina proved the doubters wrong
Jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins celebrate with Galopin Des Champs after winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Steve Paston/PA Wire/PA Images
Volume has become the defining feature of Willie Mullins’ training career. The sheer number of horses he trains, brings to events and enters into individual races is unparalleled. Unsurprisingly, the number of winners returned is as high as expected, if not higher. –
His Gold Cup win with Galopin Des Champs was his third so far in Cheltenham’s biggest race, not to mention his sixth win of this week’s meeting and 94th at the festival overall.
Yet even for him, for all his success, Friday’s Gold Cup win hit home in a way he could not foresee. Mullins had been confident in Galopin Des Champs’s ability to stay the course in this race for some time now, despite many on the outside questioning his stamina over a lengthy Gold Cup track.
“What stands out is the pressure I put myself under,” says Mullins. “I was surprised actually, coming to the third last [jump] how much I started to feel it. After that I could see Paul [Townend, jockey] back in third and I thought, ‘Wow, this could happen’. I was amazed how much it meant to me. I didn’t think it would . . . Normally you don’t, you just train them, run them, win what they can and hopefully you get a good one.
“The fact that so many people thought that he wouldn’t stay, that surprised me, we had to say he would stay. It was our word, so that put pressure on us. It would be different if he was a 10-1 shot but he was favourite, and people backed him on the belief that I was right. That’s where I felt the pressure coming from.”
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Paul Townend celebrates winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Galopin Des Champs on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates as he returns to the winner's enclosure on Galopin Des Champs after victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, in Cheltenham, England on March 17th. Photograph: by Glyn Kirk/AFP
Trainer Willie Mullins celebrates after Galopin Des Champs ridden by Paul Townend wins the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Good Time Jonny is washed down by Tony Martin after winning the race. Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Racegoers celebrate a wining bet in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Trainer Paul Nicholls celebrates as Harry Cobden on board Stage Star wins the Turners Novices Chase during day three of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 16th. Photograph: by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Turners Novices' Chase, racegoers watch the action.
Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
A racegoer in Irish themed attire studies the form on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Racegoers sit on benches on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Denis Courtney, originally from Cork, ponders his next bet
Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Racegoers from Lincolnshire enjoying the atmosphere.
Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
John Gleeson riding A Dream to Share celebrates winning the Champion Bumper during day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15th. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Owner Michael O’Leary celebrates after winning with Delta Work. Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Harry Cobden riding Thyme White is unseated during the Grand Annual Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15th. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Racegoers react during the Glenfarclas Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Jockey Ben Jones after falling from Francky Du Berlais during the Glenfarclas Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Paul Townend on Energumene celebrates after winning the Champion Chase. Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Owner Tony Bloom (L) and trainer Willie Mullins react after horse Energumene won the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images
Winning connections from the owners and stable staff celebrate the victory of Harry Skelton riding Langer Dan to victory in The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle during day two of the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Harry Skelton riding Langer Dan (C, blue/yellow) on their way to victory in The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle during day two of the Cheltenham Festival on March 15th. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
A pizza-loving racegoer attends Cheltenham Festival wearing a Domino's pizza inspired fascinator. Photograph: Stuart C Wilson/Getty Images
Jockey Davy Russell in the weighing room on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Racegoers on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Owner of The Real Whacker, David Mann, celebrates with jockey Sam Twiston-Davies after its victory in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Owners and trainers watch The Real Whacker win the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Sam Twiston-Davies prays for the photo finish to go his way ceafter riding The Real Whacker to win The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Racegoer reacts during the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Paul Townend riding Impaire Et Passe celebrates winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Racegoers enjoying Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival.
Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Racegoers arrive ahead of day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
A horse on the gallops ahead of day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Racegoers celebrate as Patrick Mullins onboard Gaillard Du Mesnil comes home to win. Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Runners and riders in action during The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Runners and riders in action during The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Members of trainer Gordon Elliott’s staff celebrate Michael O’Sullivan onboard Jazzy Matty winning the race. Photograph: INPHO/Tom Maher
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on Honeysuckle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead celebrate after winning the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle with Honeysuckle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Racegoers cheer on the runners and riders as they watch the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Racegoers watching the second race of the day, the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase, on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
Gulls in flight as horses exercise on the gallops ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
A racegoer celebrates a winning bet in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
A racegoer celebrates a winning bet in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photograph: PA
The nature of Mullins’ career, the constant need to focus on the next horse, the next race, means he is seldom asked to reflect on his dominance. A rare opportunity to take stock was presented by lengthy Gold Cup-winner media duties. Inevitably, he had a runner in the day’s next race, but despite having one eye on the television at the back of the press room, Mullins reflected on his stellar record.
“It’s mind blowing. I can’t comprehend the numbers we have in training at home. I can’t comprehend the quality of horse we have at home. It’s something no one ever dreamed of in a national hunt yard. The day I got my license if someone said to me, ‘You’ll have 60 horses every day for the rest of your training career’, I’d have grabbed that. The top English or Irish trainers, no one had more than 60.
“You’re lucky if you got a Grade One horse every year, or two maybe. Every day now, every night I go through the barns looking at them and I pinch myself, we don’t take it for granted. Myself, Jackie [his wife,] we’re as in awe of it as any of you guys are when you come down on press days, to see the horses running around the place and the quality of them.”
Alongside Al Boum Photo’s pair of wins in 2019 and 2020, Mullins now has a trio of Gold Cup wins. The inevitable question is where this one ranks on a stellar racing CV.
“I wouldn’t like to demean any other achievement,” he says. “It’s fantastic to win a Gold Cup, I’m very lucky that I’ve had Al Boum Photo and this fella. They’re all up there.”
Not only are the Gold Cups high on his memorable list, but even the smaller achievements hit home.
“I’ve one small horse for an owner that’s called after his dead wife and we take it round the whole country,” explained Mullins. “We won a little race with her and that meant as much to me, I love doing that.”
Even with all the reflection, the constant churn of racing always wins out. A day after the Gold Cup win, Mullins has runners in Thurles. Paul Townend, who saddled Galopin Des Champs on Friday, also has to dash back across the Irish Sea for the meet in Tipperary.
“We have to do all those days at the smaller meetings to get these days,” he says. “That is where these horses start and hopefully we might find another champion there tomorrow. It is easy to switch between racing here and somewhere like tomorrow when they are winning.”
As for Mullins, the nature of his consistency led some to wonder if Thursday, one of those rare day without a winner, was a source of frustration. Coming into the week on 88 festival winners, some wonder if an inability to reach a century this week could also rankle.
But not so for Mullins, who leaves in no doubt his feelings after another stellar run at Cheltenham: “I’ve had the perfect week.”
