Kilkenny trainer Willie Mullins rocked by devastating blow ahead of Cheltenham Festival

Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Closutton-based Kilkenny trainer has announced.

Winner of the race in 2023 and 2024, the Audrey Turley-owned gelding was second to Inothewayurthinkin 12 months ago when bidding to join the likes of Arkle and Best Mate as a three-time winner.

In two starts so far this season, the 10-year-old had been third on both occasions, in the Savills Chase on his reappearance and most recently to stablemate Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup.

Mullins told Sporting Life: “Unfortunately Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out for the rest of the season. After working very well on Thursday morning he wasn’t right on Friday morning and will miss the Gold Cup and the other spring festivals.”

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The Willie Mullins machine has not quite found top gear so far this season. But it would be a brave man who bets against the Cheltenham Festival’s all-time leading trainer engaging overdrive at Prestbury Park when it matters.

The Closutton maestro has become synonymous with National Hunt racing’s showpiece event in the Cotswolds – his 10 winners across the four days last year matched the record he set in 2022, taking his overall Festival tally to a staggering 113.

It is measure of the remarkable standards the 69-year-old has set that despite plundering 11 Grade One prizes this season, including five of the eight up for grabs at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival, some have viewed his campaign so far as a little underwhelming, including Mullins himself.

“I didn’t think things would be as quiet,” he admitted.

“We had a very wet time from November to right up to Christmas. I was waiting for a little rest in the weather but round here it never really happened. I always look at the weir here and for most of the winter you couldn’t see the weir because the river was that high.

“I was disappointed with how slowly we were getting into gear and weather-wise it wouldn’t have been a help. I think it’s been the wettest year I’ve ever had and I’ve been here 40 years, but that has never bothered me before.

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“They’re all eating and well, we’ve been doing various tests and whatever else people do, the hay and straw seems to be fine.

“Sometimes at that time of year we are a bit slow and people say we’re not going to go well and then in the spring things come right. We are probably a little behind even that this year, maybe even a big bit, but I’m happy enough.

“I’ve been further forward in other years, a few of the horses just haven’t sparked yet, but I think I’ll have them right by the time we get to Cheltenham.”

Mullins was speaking during what has become an annual pre-Cheltenham pilgrimage for the press in mid-February.

With the main man suffering from a back issue – perhaps from the weight of carrying the hopes of Cheltenham punters over the years – there was a late change of venue, as the rainy Closutton gallops were swapped for a cosy lounge and a cup of tea at The Lord Bagenal Inn.

Despite the fact his string has not been firing on all cylinders this winter, many will expect the Festival’s go-to man to deliver with his usual regularity by the time the tapes go up on March 10 – but as is usually the case at this time of year, Mullins is doing his best to dampen the hype.

“I’m always fascinated that people come up to me and say ‘how many winners this year Willie, seven, eight – 10?’. People expect us to have winners, we go there hoping to have one and if we get one on the first day hopefully we might get two or three,” he explained.

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“We don’t go over expecting winners. We probably have five or six favourites and in other years we’ve had 10. If you have 10 favourites you know five of them will get beaten, that’s the reality of it.

“I don’t expect, I hope to get winners and hopefully the right ones will win. It’s always nicer to get bigger winners in a championship race – getting a Gold Cup or a Champion Hurdle puts a whole different aspect on the week.”

While more than happy to crack the odd joke and deliver his thoughts with a broad smile, the expectation that is attached to his runners on the lead-up to the biggest week of the year is something Mullins is well aware of.

He said: “You have to enjoy it, but as much as I enjoy it, I dread it as well.

“You wonder every morning, is it going to be this horse injured or that horse injured? You’re always hoping to God that it’s not one of the Grade A horses.

“There are injuries, like in any football team or hurling team you’re always going to get injuries – you just hope it’s not your star player.

“It’s fun getting them ready, but that’s the dread – people say pressure is for tyres, but that’s a load of b******.”

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Willie Mullins' mare Lossiemouth will contest the Unibet Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival - one of nine declarations.

The seven-year-old mare was rerouted to Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle during last year’s meeting, which she duly won with ease for a second time.

Mullins and owner Rich Ricci have decided to have a crack at the Champion Hurdle this time around though, with Coral making Lossiemouth the 9-4 joint-favourite with The New Lion.

Mullins told Sporting Life: “Rich and I have been in dialogue on her target and after we spoke after racing at Gowran (on Saturday) it has been decided that Lossiemouth will run in the Champion Hurdle.

“With the declaration timing she was always going to travel over to England when she has and we’re happy to let her take her chance on Tuesday where she’ll wear cheekpieces.”

Dan Skelton’s The New Lion was a Trials day winner at Cheltenham on his most recent start in January, while Golden Ace, who secured a surprise victory last year after crashing falls for Constitution Hill and State Man, will aim to defend her crown for Jeremy Scott.

Gordon Elliott’s mare Brighterdaysahead is another who will go up against the boys, while Workahead will line up for Henry de Bromhead.

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Mullins has also declared last season’s JCB Triumph winner Poniros and Anzadam, while other British challengers come from Joe Tizzard’s Alexei and Tutti Quanti for Paul Nicholls.

Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes will go head-to-head in a fascinating battle after seven horses were declared for the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.

Henderson’s superstar Lulamba has yet to taste defeat in three chase races, while last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes, trained by Mullins, eased to a 13-length success on his only start over fences in November.

The Closutton handler has the only mare in the field with Kargese, while Steel Ally (Sam Thomas), Mambonumberfive (Ben Pauling), Jax Junior (Lucy Wadham) and Hansard (Gary and Josh Moore) complete the line-up.

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Old Park Star, Mighty Park and El Cairos all feature among 12 declarations for the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Grand National favourite Iroko heading a 22-strong field for the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase.

Saratoga is one of 22 in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, better known as the Fred Winter, with Madara heading the market for the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase and 17 declared for the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase.