Champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins has described his historic triumph in the British trainers’ championship as a highlight of an extraordinary year for his yard. Mullins, honored this week with the National Hunt Award at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards in Dublin’s Mansion House, became the first Irish trainer since Vincent O’Brien in 1954 to claim the prestigious UK jumps title.
Reflecting on the achievement, Mullins shared how the success capped off a string of remarkable victories over the past 12 months.
“Where do you start?” he said. “Aintree National, Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, and I think the same in Ireland—the Gold Cup in Ireland, the Champion Hurdle. The day in Sandown was just tremendous. The amount of our friends that flew over just to be there and the reception we got from the British public, you know, we were bowled over by it.”
The year has seen Mullins dominate both sides of the Irish Sea, with standout moments including Galopin Des Champs’ victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, I Am Maximus’s triumph in the Aintree Grand National, and success across Ireland’s premier jump racing festivals.
The reception in Sandown, where Mullins secured the British trainers’ championship, was especially meaningful, reflecting not only the quality of his horses but also the respect and admiration his team commands in the sport.
With yet another stellar season under his belt, Mullins continues to set the standard in National Hunt racing, blending meticulous preparation with a knack for delivering on the biggest stages.
Most recently, The Willie Mullins-trained ‘Lossiemouth’ claimed the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. yesterday. The five-year-old, with Paul Townend on board, held off ‘Teauphoo’ to take the honor.