The 2025 Cheltenham Festival told a familiar tale. Try as they might, the British trainers couldn’t keep pace with their Irish counterparts. As ever, the man at the forefront of the Emerald Isle onslaught was the irrepressible Willie Mullins. Ten more Cheltenham Festival winners and yet another top trainer gong re-emphasised that the Closutton maestro is the current king of the National Hunt game and is likely to remain that way for pretty much as long as he wants.
Witnessing Mullins riding a wave of victories at the Cheltenham Festival is nothing new. With 113 wins, he is, after all, easily the most successful trainer in the history of the meeting. Whilst battered and bruised, the British trainers did at least have the Aintree Grand National meeting to look forward to. Perhaps things would be different on Merseyside. Then again, perhaps not.
Any thoughts that Mullins may take his foot off the gas in April were dispelled on a spectacular Thursday afternoon at Aintree – the three-day Grand National Festival kicked off with four consecutive Grade 1 events, and Mullins won them all.
Impaire Won’t Be Passed in Manifesto Novices Chase
Nine runners lined up for the 2025 Manifesto Novices Chase, with the Arkle hero Jango Baie sitting atop the market. Having won despite the 2m trip looking on the short side at Cheltenham, many expected the Nicky Henderson runner would be tough to beat.
However, Mullins claimed this prize for the first time with Il Etait Temps in 2024 and had no intention of relinquishing his crown. Going in the double green of Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, Impaire Et Passe skipped the Cheltenham Festival following a slightly disappointing effort in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase. However, having claimed the 2023 Ballymore Novices Hurdle and 2024 Aintree Hurdle, there was no doubting his talent.
Back at Aintree, Impaire Et Passe bounced right back to his best. Sweeping past longtime leader Gidleigh Park on the run to the last, he cruised clear for a 1½l success, with Jango Baie getting going all too late in third.
No Mercy from Murcia in Juvenile Event
Successful with Apple’s Jade in 2016 and Zenta in 2023, Mullins knows the sort needed to claim the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle. Murcia was the mare selected to fly the Closutton flag in 2025 but would need to improve on recent efforts. Heading to Aintree with just one win from seven career outings, she managed only eighth behind Puturhandstogether in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
On the plus side, Murcia was better off at the weights with Puturhandstogether this time, and a consistent surge of support suggested a big run was expected. Those who sided with the mount of Paul Townend had few moments of concern. Barring the odd jump to her right, Murcia travelled like a dream and proved to be in a different league on her way to an easy six-length success.
Warrior Bowls Them Over
Headed into the current season, Gaelic Warrior looked well placed to challenge for top honours in the 2m chase division. Successful three times during his novice season, the highlight came in the shape of a magnificent 8½l romp in the Arkle Chase.
Given that promise, it is fair to say that the 2024/25 campaign hadn’t lived up to expectations for the Susannah Ricci-owned star. Three starts in three 2m chases yielded three defeats by ever-increasing margins. With the Queen Mother Champion Chase off the menu on the back of those displays, Mullins opted to skip Cheltenham altogether and target Gaelic Warrior at the 3m1f Aintree Bowl.
His recent efforts and the fact that he hadn’t raced over 3m since 2023 were question marks against the seven-year-old, but he answered them in style. Looming into contention on the approach to the last, he quickly pulled clear of the duelling Grey Dawning and Stage Star to score by a widening three lengths.
Lossiemouth Too Strong in Aintree Hurdle
Despite a litany of star names, the hurdling division has been a little disappointing this season. Lossiemouth fell in her much-anticipated clash with State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle, whilst the English version of that race turned into a shambles, thanks to the falls of State Man and Constitution Hill and the complete no-show from Brighterdaysahead.
The next in the series of clashes came in the Aintree Hurdle as Lossiemouth locked horns with the sensational Constitution Hill. Having come up short against the Nicky Henderson star in the Christmas Hurdle, could the Mullins mare turn the tables over this 2m4f trip?
Turning for home, we looked all set for a thrilling conclusion, with Lossiemouth vying for the lead and Constitution Hill beginning to launch his challenge. However, just as he had at Cheltenham, the 2023 winner of this race threw in a clumsy jump and crashed to the turf two from home. The admirable Wodhooh made a race of it, but Lossiemouth had way too many guns on the run to the line.
The 101/1 Four-Timer
| Race | Winner | SP | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manifesto Nov’ Chase | Impaire Et Passe | 9/4 | £67,524 |
| 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle | Murcia | 11/4 | £61,897 |
| Aintree Bowl | Gaelic Warrior | 11/4 | £140,608 |
| Aintree Hurdle | Lossiemouth | 5/4 | £140,985 |
Four Grade 1s, four wins, and over £400,000 in total prize money – at this rate, Mullins may yet go close to retaining his British Champion Trainers title. Those who climbed aboard the Mullins bandwagon on the opening day at Aintree were rewarded with a 101/1 four-timer.