Four Willie Mullins-trained horses to watch next season

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For the best part of the last decade, Irish handler Willie Mullins has dominated the sport of National Hunt racing. The horse racing betting sites took a hit this year as his grip on jumps racing was more apparent than ever in the recent 2023-24 campaign.

The master of Closutton became the first trainer to surpass 100 wins at the iconic Cheltenham Festival, while he also won the prestigious Grand National en route to landing his first British Champions Trainer title. 

The jumps racing season might officially be on hiatus, but the hard work never stops behind the scenes for Mullins and his team of experts at Closutton Stables in County Carlow. That said, let’s take a look at four of the most powerful thoroughbreds Mullins is set to unleash in the 2024-25 season.  

Ballyburn

One of the most exciting horses currently in his ranks, Ballyburn blew away horse racing pundits and enthusiasts alike with some stunning performances throughout the campaign. 

The six-year-old was second to Firefox on his seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse in December, and went on a four-race unbeaten streak that included Grade 1 wins at Leopardstown, Cheltenham, and Punchestown. 

It’s yet to be confirmed what Mullins plans to do with Ballyburn next season, but novice chasing looks like the most probable route. 

Ballyburn is the 5/1 favourite for the Arkle and even shorter in the Turners’ Novice Chase, with odds of 7/2 making that his likeliest target for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. 

Fact To File

Fact To File is another exciting horse from the 2023-24 season, and he’s certainly worth watching throughout the upcoming campaign, as he’s set to try and dethrone stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup. 

Like Ballyburn, Fact To File was beaten on his reappearance at Navan in November. However, he racked up three impressive wins on the trot, including a commanding victory in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Hopes are high for the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old ahead of next season, as he’s the 4/1 joint-favourite for the Gold Cup.