Willie Mullins has been even more dominant than usual so far this season. He’s currently over €1.2m clear of Gordon Elliott in the Irish trainers’ championship. Added to this, he’s also just short of 200 winners for the campaign already. The great man is expected to clean up at the Cheltenham Festival again with another dominant display. We’ve combined five of his best chances into a mega accumulator and the bookies will be praying it doesn’t come in.
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El Fabiolo (6-4, William Hill) shot to the head of the betting for the Arkle after an excellent performance in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown in February. That piece of form is absolutely rock-solid, with the best Irish novices over two miles all taking part. Winning by 10 lengths, it was a hugely impressive performance. It’s likely that he’ll need to improve his jumping to win here but he’s clearly very talented.
Gaillard Du Mesnil (1-1, William Hill) finished third in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory at last year’s Festival. He got off the mark over fences in a Grade 1 over three miles at Leopardstown on his penultimate start. It’s hard to argue he’s not a worthy favourite, especially as he finished third in the Irish Grand National last season. This son of Saints Des Saints should take all the beating.
Energumene (2-1, William Hill) is the defending champion and has been usurped at the head of the market after blotting his copybook at Cheltenham last time. We’re likely to see a much sharper Energumene next week however and there’s no better man at getting a horse to peak for Cheltenham than Willie Mullins.
Lossiemouth (15-8, William Hill) has been the obvious horse for this race for most of the season. She was hugely impressive in her first couple of starts in Ireland, winning a Grade 3 and a Grade 2. Hugely unlucky last time out, she lost her unbeaten record at Leopardstown after suffering significant trouble in-running. Well capable of bouncing back here, she can get the job done.
Galopin Des Champs (15-8, William Hill) is an absolute monster of a horse. He had the race at his mercy when falling at the last in the Turners Novices’ Chase last year. Mullins’ charge remains unbeaten so far this season and the only obstacle in his way is that he’s yet to prove his stamina for the trip. His trainer has no doubt that he has enough in the tank.
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