Leading Trainers at the Cheltenham Festival |
Tuesday 10th - Friday 13th March 2026 |
Willie Mullins once again left Cheltenham as the meeting’s dominant force, securing the leading trainer title for the 13th time and extending his remarkable run to eight successive years.
From his powerful Closutton base in County Carlow, Mullins dispatches battalions rather than runners, and for more than a decade the Cheltenham Festival has felt as though it has revolved around his operation. Each March the familiar green-and-red wave arrives, and more often than not it sweeps all before it.
There had been the faintest suggestion beforehand that this year might prove different. In the weeks leading up to the Festival his team had not quite appeared the irresistible force of previous seasons, and some wondered whether the grip might loosen, if only slightly.
Cheltenham, however, tends to reward the trainer who prepares his horses to peak precisely when it matters most, and Mullins has turned that skill into an art form. By the time the curtain came down he had saddled eight winners, confirmation that his team had been primed perfectly for the biggest stage of the National Hunt season.
The crowning moment arrived in the week’s centrepiece when Gaelic Warrior captured the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the race that defines reputations and crowns champions.
Afterwards, Mullins reflected on another extraordinary week.
“I hadn’t realised we were leading the standings. It’s fantastic. It’s great to have a winner here never mind be leading trainer for the Festival.
“I’m delighted for the yard. This one means a lot, they all do, but especially for our team this year. I’m so pleased.”
🏆 Leading Trainers
| Trainer |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
Willie Mullins |
7 | 6 | 3 |
Nicky Henderson |
3 | 3 | 2 |
Dan Skelton |
2 | 2 | 3 |
Henry de Bromhead |
2 | 1 | 1 |
Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
2 | 1 | |
Gordon Elliott |
1 | 3 | |
Gavin Cromwell |
1 | 1 | 4 |
Joseph Patrick O'Brien |
1 | 2 | |
J J O'Shea |
1 | ||
Jamie Snowden |
1 | ||
Cath Williams |
1 | ||
Ben Pauling |
1 | ||
Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholl |
1 | ||
Venetia Williams |
1 | ||
Padraig Roche |
1 | ||
Noel Meade |
1 | ||
Olly Murphy |
1 | 1 | |
Emmet Mullins |
1 | ||
Ruth Jefferson |
1 | ||
Philip Hobbs & Johnson White |
1 | ||
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero |
1 | ||
Faye Bramley |
1 | ||
Mrs C WIlliams |
1 | ||
M F Morris |
1 | ||
Cian Collins |
1 | ||
Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore |
1 | ||
Tom Dascombe |
1 | ||
Paul Nicholls |
2 | ||
Richard J Bandey |
1 | ||
John C McConnell |
1 | ||
James Owen |
1 | ||
Gary & Josh Moore |
1 | ||
Ian Patrick Donoghue |
1 | ||
Paul Nolan |
1 | ||
Chris Gordon |
1 | ||
Adam Nicol |
1 | ||
Kelly Morgan |
1 |
Day 4
Air Of Entitlement makes it successive victories at the Cheltenham Festival with victory in the Martin Pipe under Patrick O'Brien for Henry de Bromhead.
Barton Snow wins the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase under a terrific ride from Henry Crow for trainer Joe O'Shea.
Gaelic Warrior is all class in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.
Johnny's Jury gets the verdict in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. A winner for Gavin Sheehan and Jamie Snowden.
Dinoblue goes back-to-back in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase. The favourite wins for Mark Walsh & Willie Mullins.
Wilful lands the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle. A winner for Jonjo Jr, Jonjo & A J O'Neill.
Apolon De Charnie wins the JCB Triumph Hurdle. A 50-1 winner for Patrick Mullins & Willie Mullins. 10-12.
Day 3
Ask Brewster gamely lands the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase under Shane Cotter for Cath Williams.
Supremely West is victorious in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle under Harry Skelton for Dan Skelton.
Heart Wood dominates the Ryanair Chase under Darragh O'Keeffe for Henry de Bromhead.
Home By The Lee powers up the hill under J J Slevin to win the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle for Joseph O'Brien.
Wodhooh wins the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle under Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Festival is up and running.
Meetmebythesea takes the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. A mighty ride by Ben Jones for Ben Pauling in the colours of J P McManus.
White Noise wins the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle. A 40-1 winner for Tom Bellamy, Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholl.
Day 2
Six-time Irish champion flat jockey, Colin Keane wins the Champion Bumper aboard The Mourne Rambler for Noel Meade.
Martator wins the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase under Charlie Deutsch for Venetia Williams.
Il Etait Temps is back to winning ways in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.
Final Orders wins the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase under a great ride from Conor Stone-Walsh for Gavin Cromwell.
Jingko Blue takes the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle under James Bowen for Nicky Henderson.
Kitzbuhel wins the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase under a brilliant ride by Harry Cobden for Willie Mullins.
King Rasko Grey wins the Turners Novices’ Hurdle in great style under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.
Day 1
Holloway Queen reigns supreme in the Princess Royal National Hunt Chase for James Bowen and Nicky Henderson.
A win at the Festival for Madara, seeing them off in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase under Harry Skelton for Dan Skelton.
Lossiemouth wins the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.
Johnnywho wins the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase under Richie McLernon for the Jonjo O'Neill team.
Saratoga takes the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle under Mark Walsh for Paddy Roche.
Kargese takes the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy after a fantastic round of jumping under Danny Mullins for Willie Mullins.
Old Park Star takes the Cheltenham Festival opener. The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle belongs to Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson.
