Willie Mullins Set for Another Strong Dublin Racing Festival

Willie Mullins enters the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival with an impressive battalion, having a strong chance of emulating the clean sweep of eight Grade One races he mounted last year. The leading trainer in the championship, Gordon Elliott, has retaliated by relocating some key contenders away from the weekend, leaving Willie Mullins poised to again lay claims to many of the top prizes.

As of Friday afternoon, 21 horses were listed at single-figure odds for the festival’s Grade One contests, with only three coming from outside the Willie Mullins stable. This overwhelming presence highlights the strength of his squad and the challenge for other trainers trying to break his grip on the event.

One of the main lessons learned from last year’s festival is that you cannot ignore Willie Mullins’ second and third strings. Danny Mullins, the trainer’s nephew, made this abundantly clear by riding a 535-1 treble on Day 1 of the 2024 festival, winning three Grade One races on three horses that were not considered the favorites.

This trend suggests that betting solely on Willie Mullins’s top-ranked runner may not always be the best strategy. One example this year is Ile Atlantique (2.55) in the Irish Arkle. Majborough, last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner, is the favorite, but Ile Atlantique has already shown strong ability over fences. He could be a solid alternative for those looking beyond the most obvious choice.

The principal race, the Irish Gold Cup, is scheduled for the first day (3.30), with Galopin Des Champs looking the most likely candidate. The reigning dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner returns to Leopardstown aiming for another victory in this race and has already proven himself at the highest level.

His main competition comes from stablemate Fact To File, an emerging talent who has already secured a high-profile win against him. The current score between them stands at one win apiece, adding intrigue to their latest meeting. However, Galopin Des Champs’s experience and past performances suggest he will be difficult to beat.

Other key runners from Willie Mullins’s yard include State Man (1.45, Irish Champion Hurdle), a top competitor in the two-mile hurdling division who is expected to lead the field in the absence of Constitution Hill. El Fabiolo Dublin racing festival, last year’s Arkle winner, steps up in competition and is well-placed for another strong performance over fences. Meanwhile, Ballyburn will be trying to confirm his place as a serious contender for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdles at Cheltenham, having already impressed as a novice hurdler.

In the case of the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival, will events witness another standard-setting performance in the book of Willie Mullins? With a stable full of contenders in key races, he remains the trainer to beat across the two days.

Although many of his entries will start as favorites, history has shown that betting on his stable companions at longer odds can sometimes yield rewards. Whether it is an experienced jockey like Danny Mullins delivering an unexpected win or a lesser-known horse stepping up, the festival will provide plenty of competitive horse racing even if the biggest prizes once again remain within the Willie Mullins stable.