Bookies fear Willie Mullins ‘mauling’ amid six out of seven favourites Cheltenham first day
The record-breaking Irish champion jumps trainer has a chance to go through the card when the biggest jumps meeting of the year opens next Tuesday
Bookies are fearful of a Willie Mullins “mauling” after the strength in depth of his Cheltenham Festival horsepower became evident.
Ireland’s 17-time champion jumps trainer and all-time most successful Cheltenham Festival handler needs six winners to reach a landmark century at the biggest jumps meeting of the year.
He could get to that on day one of the fixture, such is the team he could line up with next Tuesday, which could have massive consequences on the betting industry.
The acceptors for the first day, released on Wednesday, reveal that the trainer is responsible for no fewer of the nine of the 15 horses confirmed for the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins has won the race seven times and he has the first three names in the betting headed by ante-post favourite Ballyburn.
Il Etait Temps is favourite for the Arkle Trophy and Meetingofthewaters is now favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase after he was bought by billionaire owner JP McManus.
With no Constitution Hill, the market for the Champion Hurdle is headed by the 1-3 State Man, Lossiemouth is 1-2 for the Mares’ Hurdle and Embassy Gardens tops lists for the National Hunt Chase.
Only the Boodles Handicap Hurdle has a non-Mullins horse as favourite but he does train the next best Batman Girac in Coral’s markets.
"Willie Mullins is currently responsible for six of the seven ante-post favourites for Tuesday's races, and he has the second favourite for the Boodles, and even if Ballyburn runs in Wednesday's Gallagher Novices' Hurdle rather than the Supreme, Mullins can instead rely on Mystical Power and Tullyhill in the opener,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
"To say we fear a Mullins mauling on Tuesday is an understatement, all his leading hopes are sure to be incredibly well-backed in singles and multiples, to the point we'll just be hoping anyone but Willie gets on the scoresheet.”
