Mullins finishes top trainer with record ten winners after dominant final day

Willie Mullins surpassed his record for most wins at a single festival and was crowned top trainer with ten winners after landing five of the seven races in an Irish whitewash on the final day.

The trainer, who ended the festival with a record-extending 88 successes, collected his trophy alongside his team after beating his previous best of eight winners in 2015.

Mullins has now been top trainer nine times since 2011 and his fifth winner of the day in the Mares' Chase was met by chants of "Elimay" from the crowd in honour of the 9-4 favourite. His closest rival was Henry de Bromhead, who recorded three winners.

"The week has exceeded expectations," Mullins said. "You hope for a good week but you don't expect it. It's hard because you're thinking whether they'll fire or blow out, and then things happen like Galopin Des Champs falling at the last. It happens but it's been a magic week."

Half of his winners were ridden by stable jockey Paul Townend, who was crowned top rider for the second time with five winners. Patrick Mullins and Gold Cup winner Rachael Blackmore were next on three. Sean O'Keeffe and Mark Walsh also rode winners for the Mullins yard.

It was a rollercoaster week for Townend, who claimed the award in 2020 but got off to the worst possible start when Dysart Dynamo fell in the Supreme.

He ended the opening day without a winner but his fortunes changed markedly on Wednesday when he landed a Grade 1 double courtesy of Sir Gerhard in the Ballymore and Energumene, who gave Mullins his first Champion Chase success.

Paul Townend celebrates after winning the Champion Chase with EnergumeneCredit: Mike Hewitt (Getty Images)

The jockey came crashing down to earth on Thursday when Galopin Des Champs fell at the final fence with the race at his mercy in the Turners Novices' Chase but he gained quick compensation aboard Allaho, who won his second Ryanair by 14 lengths from stablemate Janidil.

Townend had another double on the final day when winning the Triumph Hurdle with Vauban and the County Hurdle on State Man. He had some near misses too, with Gaelic Warrior narrowly denied in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Tuesday.

"It's competitive and there's pressure riding for Willie, who has had an amazing week," the jockey said. "It's credit to him and the team for turning out the horses but it's a hard place to have winners. I came with a strong book of rides and things improved from Tuesday.

"You want to feel pressure on the good horses and it's what you channel positively or negatively. I've got good people looking after me, like David Casey and Ruby Walsh, who has been good to me. He's always on the end of the phone no matter how busy he is."

The leading owner award was claimed by Cheveley Park, owners of Sir Gerhard, Allaho and Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard, while Irish trainers outscored their British rivals 18-10 in the Prestbury Cup after claiming all seven races on the final day.

A record 280,627 people attended the four days of the Cheltenham Festival, with the crowd of 73,875 on Gold Cup day the biggest ever recorded at the meeting.

Final standings

(1st-2nd-3rd)

Jockey leaderboard

Paul Townend 5-2-3
Mr Patrick Mullins 3-0-2
Rachael Blackmore 3-0-1
Nico de Boinville 2-2-1
Mark Walsh 2-2-0
Charlie Deutsch 1-2-1
Jack Kennedy 1-1-2
Tom O'Brien 1-1-0
Derek Fox 1-1-0
Sean O'Keeffe 1-0-1
Danny Mullins 1-0-1
Adam Wedge 1-0-0
Johnny Burke 1-0-0
Tom Cannon 1-0-0
Shane Fitzgerald 1-0-0
Mark McDonagh 1-0-0
Lucy Turner 1-0-0
Kielan Woods 1-0-0
Davy Russell 0-3-0
Mr Jamie Codd 0-2-1
Aidan Coleman 0-2-1
Paddy Brennan 0-2-0
Darragh O'Keeffe 0-1-1
Jack Andrews 0-1-0
Keith Donoghue 0-1-0
Mr Barry O’Neill 0-1-0
Robbie Power 0-1-0
Tom Scudamore 0-1-0
JJ Slevin 0-1-0
Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 0-1-0
Harry Cobden 0-0-2
Bryan Cooper 0-0-2
Harry Skelton 0-0-2
Sean Bowen 0-0-1
Jack Foley 0-0-1
Jordan Gainford 0-0-1
Mr James King 0-0-1
Mr Derek O'Connor 0-0-1
Conor Orr 0-0-1
Brendan Powell 0-0-1

Trainer leaderboard

(1st-2nd-3rd)

Willie Mullins 10-3-7
Henry de Bromhead 3-1-2
Gordon Elliott 2-7-4
Nicky Henderson 2-5-1
Venetia Williams 2-2-2
Gavin Cromwell 1-1-1
Joseph O'Brien 1-1-1
Lucinda Russell 1-1-0
Harry Fry 1-0-0
Alan King 1-0-0
Hughie Morrison 1-0-0
Ben Pauling 1-0-0
Padraig Roche 1-0-0
Evan Williams 1-0-0
Fergal O'Brien 0-2-0
Martin Brassil 1-0-0
Ben Case 0-1-1
David Christie 0-1-0
Philip Hobbs 0-1-0
David Pipe 0-1-0
Dan Skelton 0-0-2
Colin Tizzard 0-0-2
Lorna Fowler 0-0-1
Jessica Harrington 0-0-1
Emma Lavelle 0-0-1
John McConnell 0-0-1
Paul Nicholls 0-0-1
Paul Nolan 0-0-1

The Prestbury Cup

Ireland 18-10 Great Britain

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