The Domination of Mullins & Co

[Beef or Salmon]

He didn't dominate Cheltenham and that's the one that matters. His rivals haven't the fire power and HdB in particular clearly got all his horses at their peak for March hence his lack of success at both the DRF and this week.

Top trainer at the festival again this year, that's 7 of the last 9 - that's dominaton in anyones language.

 

[Euronymous]

Henry won the Champion Hurdle, the QM and the Gold Cup. Willie won a lot of who gives a **** handicaps. He was not dominant

 

[Beef or Salmon]

What Mullins is doing is far more impressive and sustainable - to be top trainer at all three of the big festivals is phenomenal. He has literally 'peaked' for the best part of 3 months.

 

[littlelad]

By any sensible measure, he was not the top trainer at Cheltenham. If anything, he had a disappointing festival

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[Beef or Salmon]

Henry won the Champion Hurdle, the QM and the Gold Cup. Willie won a lot of who gives a **** handicaps. He was not dominant

He only won one handicap fwiw! And I would say that every single trainer - particularly the home trainers would have been thrilled to win a **** handicap

 

[archie]

The Mullins clan are only interested in winners but, if they have to choose, they'll look at domestic records every time. Patrick could have turned professional for Cheltenham but the lure of another Irish title and records that will stand for years was too great.

 

[granger]

Willie doesnt have to be at his best to be top trainer in Ireland between buying power, stable zize and staffing

Henry on the other hand has to maximise every grain of ability from his string and has done a job this year that no-one will ever replicate

 

[archie]

Willie's buying power is nothing special but his contacts are.

At the last count, Willie had had 616 runners in Ireland this NH season and Henry 657.

Henry is a fine trainer who has had a marvellous Cheltenham. Willie is a fine trainer who is having a marvellous Punchestown.

 

[chroniclandlord]

Hardline is a non runner at Tramore leaving Willie training all four runners.

Annamix also a non runner.

 

[chroniclandlord]

Due to Covid, I had plently of time on my hands over Christmas and the new year, and I got thinking about the best horses Willie has trained. I tried listing his best 100 national hunt horses and the list below is what I came up with.
Among those to just miss out are grade 1 winning novice hurdlers Un Atout, Long Dog, Pont Alexandre and Airlie Beach, the Scilly Isles winner Gitane de Berlais, and the stalwart handicap chasers, Scotsirish, Acepella Bourgeois and Brahma Bull.
I tried to rank the Gigginstown horses soley on what they achieved when resident in Closutton, otherwise Apples Jade would be higher than her position in this list.

1	Hurricane Fly	2004
2	Faugheen	2008
3	Vautour	2009
4	Douvan	2010
5	Al Boum Photo	2012
6	Un des Sceaux	2008
7	Florida Pearl	1992
8	Annie Power	2008
9	Min	2011
10	Klassical Dream	2014
11	Nichols Canyon	2010
12	Djakadam	2009
13	Kemboy	2012
14	Allaho	2014
15	Chacun Pour Soi	2012
16	Energumeme	2014
17	Melon	2012
18	Bellshill	2010
19	Footpad	2012
20	Sir des Champs	2006
21	Thousand Stars	2004
22	Appreciate It	2014
23	Quevega	2004
24	Sharjah	2013
25	Hedgehunter	1996
26	Arctic Fire	2009
27	Don Poli	2009
28	Rule Supreme	1996
29	Fiveforthree	2002
30	Alexander Banquet	1993
31	Penhill	2011
32	Wicklow Brave	2009
33	Monkfish	2014
34	Golden Silver	2002
35	Killultagh Vic	2009
36	Champagne Fever	2007
37	Arvika Legionere	2005
38	Boston Bob	2005
39	Yorkhill	2010
40	Tornado Flyer	2013
41	Asterior Forlonge	2014
42	On His Own	2004
43	Ferny Hollow	2015
44	Galopin des Champs	2016
45	Apples Jade	2012
46	Vroum Vroum Mag	2009
47	Benie des Dieux	2011
48	Zaidpour	2006
49	Aramon	2013
50	Saldier	2014
51	Valseur Lido	2009
52	Black Hercules	2009
53	Janidil	2014
54	Shaneshill	2009
55	Real Steel	2008
56	Felix Younger	2006
57	Kempes	2003
58	Saint Roi	2015
59	Cilaos Emery	2012
60	Twinlight	2007
61	Snowy Morning	2000
62	Bacardys	2011
63	Laurina	2013
64	Bapaume	2013
65	Outlander	2008
66	Colreevy	2013
67	Blackstairmountain	2005
68	Mikael d'Hagunet	2004
69	Cooldine	2002
70	Diakali	2009
71	So Young	2006
72	Royal Rendezvous	2012
73	Ballycasey	2007
74	Easy Game	2014
75	Davenport Milenium	1996
76	Ebaziyan	2001
77	Mr Adjudicator	2014
78	Invitation Only	2011
79	Castlebawn West	2013
80	Rathvinden	2008
81	Briar Hill	2008
82	Bachasson	2011
83	Total Recall	2009
84	Stormy Ireland	2014
85	Cousin Vinny	2003
86	Cadmium	2012
87	Burrows Saint	2013
88	Duc des Genivres	2013
89	Sadler's Wings	1998
90	Quel Esprit	2004
91	Glencove Marina	2002
92	Micko's Dream	1992
93	Wither or Which	1991
94	Glens Melody	2008
95	Concertista	2014
96	Pleasant Company	2008
97	Tourist Attraction	1989
98	Barker	2001
99	Avant Tout	2010
100	Citizen Vic	2003

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Any thoughts?

 

[Grasshopper]

Christ! Some labour of love that CL!

Nothing immediately springs to mind as a miss. Hope the Rona hasn’t floored you too much.

 

[Tanlic]

Timeform said Douvan was the best horse he ever trained just a couple of weeks ago.

He may well have been but Hurricane Fly has the numbers saying differently.

A horse I would have a bit higher was Bellshill purely on the fact he almost won the Irish Grand National giving away up to 2 stone to his rivals.
He finished 3rd but was placed 5th but it was an amzing performance all the same.

 

[HawkWing]

Great list chroniclandlord.

Perhaps some of his oldies like Adamant Approach might end up there.

 

[Grasshopper]

I had sort of assumed the list wasn’t in any particular order myself.

 

[granger]

A fine list. I checked twice to make sure golden silver wasn't forgotten

 

[HawkWing]

Missed That was another one unfortunately cut down before his potential was reached. Not sure who he would replace.

 

[edgt]

Wicklow Brave should be higher as he went places ten really really good horses collectively would have trouble going.
Amazing a few years ago Timeform did WPMs top 20 and Hurricane Fly did not feature.
Go figure.
Mikael d'Hagunet another that with a little luck on his side would have been much higher.
His debut chase fall in Grade 1 at Fairyhouse was the ruination of his career; the freeze up forced WPM's hand and the poor horse was never the same after.
But for Vautour's untimely demise he could have topped the list.
Great Work Eamonn.

 

[Beef or Salmon]

Fair play to you man, thats quite the task to take on. I was asked recently for his top 5 and after a lot of hair pulling and frustration I actually had 4 of your top five - ABP has never quite dobe it for me!

At a quick glance I think if not only for longevity, consisteny and relaibility then I would have Quevega higher up - for example Nichols Canyon is 12 places higher.

 

[Tanlic]

What amazes me about the list is where on earth did they all go.

Douvan was heading for immotality one minute and was gone the next Vautour lost through injury 9 of the first 15 gone without a trace.

It just goes to show how hard a game NH racing is.

 

[an capall]

Great work, Eamon. I'd have included Livingstonebramble, but apart from that can't find fault.

 

[chroniclandlord]

At a quick glance I think if not only for longevity, consisteny and relaibility then I would have Quevega higher up - for example Nichols Canyon is 12 places higher.

On reflection, you're probably right about that. To be honest, I found it hard to pick where to slot the mares in. Vroum Vroum Mag and Benie des Dieux could also arguably be higher than where I placed them.

 

[chroniclandlord]

Perhaps some of his oldies like Adamant Approach might end up there.

I had him on the original long list of about 120 but as I don't think that he ever won a graded race and his peak rating was around 150 he missed out. Had he not fallen in the supreme he would almost certainly have made the final list.

Thinking about it though, his longevity and number of wins maybe should have carried more weight with me.

 

[Grey]

As well as Wicklow Brave being higher, the likes of True Self, Max Dynamite and Sesenta might have a case for inclusion. Quite a list though.

 

[chroniclandlord]

Thanks to everyone for their comments, I enjoyed putting it together.

 

[chroniclandlord]

As well as Wicklow Brave being higher, the likes of True Self, Max Dynamite and Sesenta might have a case for inclusion. Quite a list though.

I deliberately didn't didn't include those three or Thomas Hobson as I was strugggling to place their flat successes in relation to the national hunt winners. Wicklow Brave's position on the list was soley due to his hurdling career.