Interview: Willie Mullins, the king of the Cotswolds

Ahead of Cheltenham Festival, we caught up with the most successful trainer in the event’s history, and talked about everything from his days as an amateur jockey to the pivotal moments of his incredible journey since... 

Where did it all start for you? 

As the saying goes, I was born on the back of a horse. My father was Champion Trainer in Ireland 10 times at least, so I was totally immersed in racing from the beginning.   

While I was at school, I rode as an amateur. I had three winners at Cheltenham, but my most memorable ride was probably winning the Foxhunters at Aintree, on a horse called Atha Cliath – the first Irish horse to win that race. He gave me a super ride around the big Aintree fences, and that will live long in the memory.   

Around the same sort of time, I was assisting my father as a trainer. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was a great way to meet a lot of people – from England, Ireland and France. Most of the amateurs became top owners, trainers and stewards, chairmen of racetracks and the like. It’s a great grounding for anyone in racing if they’re lucky enough to get an amateur licence. You just meet so many of the people you’re going to do business with in the second half of your life.   

What were the most important things you learnt from your father about training horses?   

The most important thing I learnt was to have patience. When you’re younger you don’t understand what real patience with horses – or people – is. And I didn’t appreciate that until it became my turn to train. I’ve since realised that you can’t rush things.   

Patience comes to you a bit more naturally once the buck stops with you. You learn that to get the most out of man or beast, you have got to let things evolve.   

How old were you when you started training horses on your own?   

I was 30 when I took out my licence. I think that was probably the right time. I see people who can’t wait to get started nowadays, and they are coming into it when they are 20 or 21 years old. But I think it’s a hard task for someone of that age, because they’re dealing with people who are much older and more experienced than they are. Youth is good for one or two things, but I’m not sure that it is great for training horses.   

Can you remember the first time you went to Cheltenham Festival?   

I first went to the Festival in 1978, the year of the snow, when the Gold Cup was cancelled. We got two days of the Festival and then it was waved off.    

I was delighted to get there. At that age I had only seen it on TV, and being there in the middle of it I was just in awe. I never dreamt, going to Cheltenham that day, that we’d have anything like the success we’ve had there over the years since.    

Indeed, I was very proud just to bring over runners that year. When we won our first race at Cheltenham Festival with Tourist Attraction in ’95 – the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – I came home thinking, ‘if I never have another runner there, at least I’ve trained a Cheltenham winner. I was very proud of it’.    

As it turned out, we brought Wither Or Which back the following year and he won the bumper. We still owned a bit of him, and to have trained him ourselves, that was a big step up – people saw that we could buy, break and train a horse to win at the Festival. It was a huge leap in our training career. Then the following year, we had Florida Pearl win the same race.    

Those three years were huge for us – they just catapulted us up to a different level of success, which owners responded to. Suddenly we were able to afford a better type of stock. Our improved standing propelled us forward and gave us the opportunity to work with top class horses. We’ve just improved and improved and improved over the years. We now find ourselves in a position that we never dreamt we would be in.   

Going into Cheltenham week 2025, Willie Mullins has 103 Festival winners to his name. (Photograph: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Is there a highlight from the Festival that stands out for you?   

I couldn’t pick a day. And there are so many moments. From riding my first winner as an amateur jockey back in ’82 to then training the first Champion Hurdle winner, we’ve just had so many incredible days. But I think if I had to pick one highlight, my son Patrick riding Cousin Vinny to win the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2008 certainly stands out. Being able to give your 18-year-old son a leg-up onto a horse you’ve trained, and for him to then win, at Cheltenham, that’s any father’s dream.    

How do you feel before a race? Do you still get nervous?    

We’re nervous maybe a week before Cheltenham. You wonder if everything is going to go right. You’re looking at the form of the horses for the whole week leading up to when they race.   

Once we get there, though, the die is cast, you can’t really do a lot more, and you just have to hope that the jockeys get it right from there on in. You have to hope that the stable staff who are looking after the horses get it right. As I always say to my staff before the first race at Cheltenham, ‘let’s not worry now, let’s all do our best’. If something goes wrong, we won’t worry about it until we get home. Then we can look at how we can prevent the same things happening in the future.    

You have to appreciate that things are going to go wrong, but hopefully a lot will also go right, and that’s sort of my motto going into Cheltenham week.  

Do you have any rituals and superstitions?    

None. I don’t do any of that stuff.    

What does the lead up to Cheltenham Festival look like for you? 

 The horses are fit from Christmastime onwards, so we just keep the same routine – 99% of horses love routine, just like people do. We keep a close eye on their health, and if they’re fit and healthy it’s down to tactics and making sure they’re running in the right races. Each horse will have two or three options when it comes to races, and you have to try and choose the right ones.  

How far in advance do you travel over for the Festival?    

We travel over the week before and get the horses settled in. You’ve got to keep an eye on the weather. We used to fly the horses over, but now we go by ferry; the ferries and roads are much improved. That said, if there’s going to be a storm coming in, or rough weather, we’ll aim to get over there earlier.    

Are there any horses that you’re particularly excited about seeing run?    

It’s hard to single out just one, but obviously I’m happy to see all of our Grade 1 horses run again. You have to look at Galopin Des Champs going back for a third Gold Cup. Very few trainers get the opportunity to have a crack at that. He could be a Best Mate or an Arkle. It’s nice to be in that position. We have our fingers crossed, but anything can happen.    

And what’s your routine after a day’s racing? 

At Cheltenham it’s usually a quiet dinner back at the hotel, because I know the next day is going to be so busy. Hopefully things have gone well and you can have a little celebration, but we’ve had plenty of days at Cheltenham when things haven’t gone well and you head back with the hope that a nice bottle of wine can ease the pain. 

For us, Cheltenham isn’t about partying – it’s about keeping everything together and sticking to the routine. 

Many special horses have come from Willie Mullins’ yard in Co. Carlow, Ireland. (Photograph: The Jockey Club).

What’s your career highlight?    

We pinch ourselves every day when we reflect on how our life story has gone. It’s been a series of highlights and we’ve spent many great days with some lovely people. We’ve been lucky enough to have jockeys like Ruby and Paul Townend. Our owners are just brilliant and that makes our lives very enjoyable. And I think that’s a key element in any business – to enjoy doing business with the people involved. That’s what myself, Jackie and Patrick have taken the most of from our way of life.    

What do you attribute your success to?    

I think it goes back to the first question – it comes down to patience and giving horses enough time so you can get the most out of them. That can be difficult for people who haven’t been in the game that long, or those who want instant gratification. Rushing can ruin a horse’s career. It’s about playing the long game and not the short game.    

After so much success, what is left on the list and what drives you to carry on?    

We’d love to win a Melbourne Cup. It’s a fabulous race in a fabulous city, and an event well worth going to for those who haven’t been. We have a mixed stable – 10% of our are horses are flat horses – so I’d love to win an Ascot Gold Cup, too. And possibly even the French Gold Cup – the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. I always like to look forward and see what else could be done – it’s good to have something to aim for.   