For all his success at the Cheltenham Festival, 113 winners to be exact, there’s one glaring absence on Willie Mullins’ CV: a victory in one of the meeting’s handicap chases. It’s not for the want of trying either, and with horse racing odds suggesting he has several live contenders across this year’s races, the question is whether 2026 will finally be the year he fills that particular gap.
Since the turn of the millennium, Mullins has turned out more than 50 runners in the meeting’s handicap chases. It’s fair to say that not many of those horses have been very fancied. You also have to remember that he didn’t have a Gold Cup winner until Al Boum Photo in 2019, and that opened the floodgates with four wins since. It’s not uncommon for even the most dominant trainers to have stubborn blind spots at the Festival.
National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase
Mullins has won the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup three times previously, including as recently as 2023, but not since it has been run as a handicap. He currently has three entries, all at 20/1 or shorter.
Joystick has the best chance according to the bookies, with odds of 10/1. The Rich Ricci-owned horse got off the mark over the larger obstacles with an eye-catching two-and-a-half-length victory over Slade Steel in a Beginners Chase at Navan in January. That came on a step up to three miles, and given how he finished strongly, the three miles and six furlongs on offer here might not be out of the question.
Argento Boy is 12/1 and boasts a better record of two wins from three chase starts, including a Grade 3 success at Naas last time out. Road To Home completes the entries at 20/1, though the horse was pulled up when last seen and will need to show significant improvement.
Plate Handicap Chase
Mullins has two entries in the Plate Handicap Chase, but both are rank outsiders. Where’s My Jet is 0 from six over fences and has shown very little to suggest he could be in contention at 25/1. O’Moore Park is a 33/1 shot who is yet to win from 10 chase starts, and was well beaten in a Grade 3 at the Dublin Racing Festival, finishing 40 lengths behind the winner. It’s hard to make a case for either of them here.
Grand Annual Handicap Chase
There is just one entry for Mullins in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase, and that’s Western Diego at 20/1. The nine-year-old has been in fair enough form in recent starts, placing in a Listed Handicap before winning a Grade 3, both at Fairyhouse.
There are others in the race who have been in better form, like Be Aware and the Gordon Elliott-trained Jacob’s Ladder, but Western Diego could still hit the frame.
Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Another race Mullins has previously won, on four occasions to be precise, the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase became a Grade 2 handicap last year. The Irish handler is well-represented here with nine runners, though there is some crossover as horses like Western Diego and Joystick are also entered, albeit at bigger odds than in the races already mentioned. C’Est Ta Chance is perhaps one to note, having got off the mark over fences on his third start in a Beginners Chase at Gowran Park in January.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup
The Kim Muir is arguably the most glaring of these races for Mullins, given that his son Patrick is the best amateur jockey in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The pair have a 0-11record in this race, but have gone close before, including placing with Mr Incredible and Sa Majeste in recent renewals. Mullins only has one possible runner here in Road To Home, who is currently 25/1 after being pulled up on his most recent start.
Ultima Handicap Chase
The Ultima is the first handicap chase of the Festival, taking place at 3:20 on the opening day, 40 minutes before the Champion Hurdle. Mullins has just the one runner here: Gold Dancer for Gigginstown House Stud.
The seven-year-old is a 25/1 shot but previously completed a hat-trick over fences that included two Grade 3 wins, and was runner-up in successive Grade 1s before a disappointing effort when last of four at Navan. A return to form could make him more interesting than his odds suggest.
