Mullins 5/6 to train five or more winners at Cheltenham Festival

Trainer Willie Mullins has an ultra-strong looking team to go to war with at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, and Coral make the County Carlow handler 5/6 to saddle over 4.5 winners.

The firm also go 5/6 about the most successful Irish handler of all-time at the Festival saddling under 4.5 as part of their New Year betting specials.

Mullins won The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at the Festival for the second year in succession,and third in total in 2014.

He has a haul of 33 winners at the Festival so far, and bagged four prizes in 2014 courtesy of Vautour, Quevega, Faugheen and Don Poli.

The nine-times Champion Irish handler fared even better in 2013 when notching five successes at the four-day meeting, and already has a number of market leaders for the big races in 2015.

They include Faugheen “the machine” who extended his unbeaten record to seven over the obstacles when running out the facile winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and is currently Coral’s even money favourite for the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, March 10th.

Mullins also has another leading contender for the 2m feature contest on the opening day in the shape of 2013 winner Hurricane Fly who has looked as good as ever this year and notched an incredible 21st success in Grade 1 company when getting the better of reigning Champion hurdler Jezki in a thrilling renewal of the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 58-year-old’s team of older horses also include Annie Power who is considered by many to be a banker for the Mares’ Hurdle, and Champagne Fever who could run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase.

He also has a whole host of exciting novice hurdlers and chasers, including Black Hercules, Don Poli, Douvan, Kalkir, Shaneshill, Tell Us More and Un Des Sceaux.

Mullins has also farmed the Champion Bumper since it was introduced at the Festival in 1992, winning the contest on eight occasions, and the unbeaten Bordini is already being talked about as something special ahead of the 2015 renewal.