Analysing Willie Mullins’ Best Chances At The 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Willie Mullins has trained a record number of Cheltenham winners having accumulated a record-breaking 113 wins as of the end of the 2025 Festival, and in 2024 he became the first trainer to break the 100 winners barrier. 

Last year, Mullins equalled his own record of saddling ten winners at the meeting, having previously achieved the feat in 2022. He also collected the Leading Trainer Award for a 12th time.

So what will be in store for the Irish trainer at the Cheltenham Festival 2026? We assess five of his leading lights here:

Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) – Majborough

Majborough became Timeform’s highest-rated horse in training after his Dublin Chase rout and he comes into the Queen Mother Champion Chase will a leading chance.

The Champion Chase is Majborough’s sole remaining entry at next month’s festival, so Mullins must really be keen on his chances of landing this coveted Grade 1 event.

Winner of the Irish Arkle at the DRF 12 months ago, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has had some jumping issues, however the application of cheekpieces appeared to work the oracle and totally rekindled his enthusiasm for the game, easily accounting for the 5-4 favourite Marine Nationale.

If he arrives at Prestbury Park in the same form, then he will take all the beating.

Champion Bumper (Grade 1) – Love Sign D’Aunou

Love Sign d’Aunou became the sports betting favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper following a romp on his first run under rules.

Sporting the familiar colours of Rich and Susannah Ricci, he was sent off the 5-4 favourite for his Pro/Am Flat Race at Naas and galloped all over his rivals to come home a 24 length victor. Will we see a similar drubbing up the Cheltenham hill?

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Lossiemouth

The popular grey has won the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in each of the last two seasons – but after wins this season in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown and the December Hurdle at Leopardstown, Lossiemouth ran a little flat in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

One suspects connections will put their Champion Hurdle aspirations to one side and will target this race again. If they do opt for this race, she will go off a fairly short favourite in the horse racing betting.

Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) – Dinoblue

Dinoblue comfortably defended her title in the Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas and it is now full  steam ahead for the Mares’ Chase again at Cheltenham.

Dinoblue is highly consistent in these mares’ events and she is highly likely to take home the silverware.

Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) – Fact To File

Fact To File‘s dominant win in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown pretty much ensures his place in the Cheltenham Gold Cup field, with JP McManus needing to stump up the readies so that he gets a run.

With form figures of 2-1-1 at the Cheltenham Festival in three appearances, Fact To File appears to be marginally ahead of his esteemed stablemate Galopin Des Champs in terms of current form, and is probably Mullins’ best chance of Gold Cup glory this season.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*