Willie Mullins’ Festival handicap chase entries and 25-1 tip

Is this the year when the Cheltenham Festival’s most successful trainer breaks new ground and finally adds a handicap chase winner to his decorated CV?

Mullins has had 113 Festival winners but his 55 runners in handicap chases, stretching back to 2000, have all been beaten. Click here for more details on that barren run.

He has at least one entry in all the handicap chases over the orthodox fences, with nine engaged in the Jack Richards' Novices' Handicap Chase.

Here’ a look at his entries for this year’s meeting, plus the weights they have been allotted. 

Mullins' record:  0/2. Form figures:  83. Entries: 1

See Jack Richards comments below.

Mullins' record: 0/14. Form figures: 34F00P50800570. Entries: 2.

Remains a maiden over fences after ten chase starts but that masks the fact that he was a staying-on third in the Jack Richards last year off a mark of 140 before returning to Cheltenham the following month and being touched off in the Silver Trophy Chase. He also ran creditably when fifth in the Paddy Power Chase when upped to 3m at Leopardstown over Christmas on his penultimate start, having previously run a bit better than the bare form suggests in the Coral Gold Trophy at Newbury in November. 

Yet to win over fences after six chase starts but his latest effort, when sixth in the handicap chase won by Backmersackme over an extended 2m 5f at Leopardstown, suggested he is one to keep in mind. He travelled strongly that day and was still in contention at the final fence, but he could not find any extra on the run-in. Perhaps the deep ground was a mitigating factor. He’s also in the Jack Richards, over a bit further on the New Course, but this might be a better fit for him. He's No 52 in the list.

Mullins' record:  0/2. Form figures: 8U. Entries: 1

Age 7: Official rating: --. Odds: --

Not Qualified.

Mullins' record:  0/9. Form figures:  65F0PP206. Entries: 1

He’s the stable’s only entry but is also in the Jack Richards. Yet to prove himself beyond 2m, this looks his likely destination. 

Those with good memories will recall he was an eye-catching seventh in the 2023 Champion Bumper but in the intervening years he’s established himself as one of the yard’s bread-and-butter horses. 

His past five starts have all been in handicap chases, with his victory in a competitive edition of the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial at Fairyhouse in mid-January being a personal best. He followed that with a solid fourth to handicap snip Jacob’s Ladder at the Dublin Racing festival, when getting 5lb. 

Mullins' record:  0/7. Form figures: 3UFP39P. Entries: 9.

This bold jumper is also entered in the Brown Advisory and Ultima, but he took a backward step when trying 3m for the first time on his latest start and so you would think he would revert to this shorter distance. 

He’s only contested Graded races since winning a 2m beginners’ chase at Tipperary in May, winning a couple of Grade Three contests before having the misfortune to bump into Romeo Coolio and Final Demand.

His blip in the Ten Up at Navan last time is easily forgiven and he appeals as the type who will also enjoy getting away from heavy ground. 

He’s also entered in the Brown Advisory. Has been a little hit and miss, and perhaps it is no coincidence his three wins have all been achieved on heavy ground. Has always looked the type to make a better chaser and he came good at the third time of asking in a 3m beginners’ event at Naas last time, when mastering the odds-on Slade Steel.

It will be interesting to see which direction the Rich Ricci-owned gelding is pointed in. Has never run in Britain, or in any type of handicap. 

Was getting his head in front for the first time in two years when edging out his stablemates, Funiculi Funicula and King Alexander, in a thrilling 2m 4f beginners’ chase at Gowran last time. 

Having had only thre starts over fences, it goes without saying there could be more to come, although he needed every millimetre to get up last time, despite the prevailing heavy ground, hinting that 3m may suit him better. 

Was well-held in the Coral Cup last year off a mark of 137 and, overall, had his limits exposed in that sphere, including when formerly trained by Nicky Henderson.

Has made a bright start over fences belatedly switched to chasing – suffering near-misses at Naas and Gowran before making the most of a straightforward opportunity last time.

Three runs over fences have brought three defeats at short odds but it would be folly to ignore the six-year-old, who remains one to be positive about and would be running in his first handicap of any kind.

He found only the similarly unexposed Soldier In Milan too strong over 2m 6f at Punchestown last time, when pulling clear of the remainder.

The Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle came too soon in his career 12 months ago, but he would be in shallower waters this time.

See Sun Racing Plate.

See Grand Annual.

See Sun Racing Plate.

Reliable type but not one of the yard’s more prolific performers and he’s going to have to leave his previous efforts over fences behind to make any impact in the unlikely event he makes the cut (No 54 on list). 

Mullins' record:  0/11. Form figures:  F54748003P3. Entries: 1

Yet to win after four starts over fences, but interesting that he’s travelled to British shores for handicaps over intermediate distances on his past two starts over the bigger obstacles. He was placed each time, keeping on under Patrick Mullins and hinting he will be an even greater force when tackling further.

I’d imagine the Kim Muir is the plan, especially with Mullins (just a hands-and-heels ride last time) being a big plus in a race restricted to amateur riders. He was pulled up in a 3m handicap hurdler at the Dublin Racing Festival on his latest start, but the ground was desperate and at least he was spared a hard race. 

The one issue is that he might be a bit too-well treated off 131, as he's No 44 in the entries.

Mullins' record:  0/10. Form figures:  P8P2PP7347. Entries: none.

No entries.

Mullins has numerous intriguing runners and the Jack Richards has clearly got his attention because he has nine entries to juggle.

Where's My Jet will be interesting if sneaking into the Plate, but the one who could be a big springer in the market is ROAD TO HOME, who looks worth an ante-post play at 25-1 for the Kim Muir.

He's been a big eye-cacher over shorter on his past two starts, which have both been on these shores, and moving up in trip seems certain to suit. The problem could be him making the cut, but we will get our money back if he does not get in.