Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins has fired in 103 winners at the Festival over the years – but are there any Willie Mullins Cheltenham runners to look out for ahead of this week’s November Meeting?
Willie Mullins Expected To Only Have A Handful Of Cheltenham Runners This Week
It’s the middle of November and for horse racing jump lovers that can only mean one thing – the Cheltenham November Meeting, which runs for three days over Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week.
The action features several top races – including the Paddy Power Gold Cup (Sat), Greatwood Hurdle (Sun) and Shloer Chase (Fri) – as we get a chance to see some early season Cheltenham Festival pointers – ahead of the ‘big one’ next March.
We can expect to see horses in action from some of the best British yards, like Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, who has the Paddy Power Gold Cup favourite Ginny’s Destiny with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
But will we also see any Willie Mullins Cheltenham runners this week?
The short answer is, yes – but nothing near the army he’ll be sending over for the Festival in four month’s time.
Cheltenham November Meeting Details
📅Date: Friday 15th to Sunday 17th November 2024
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Willie Mullins Cheltenham Runners (November Meeting 2024)
Here are the current entries for Willie Mullins at Cheltenham this week. But note a double entry, with the final runners declared 48 hours before each race.
Day (Date) |
Willie Mullins Cheltenham Entries |
Friday 15th November 24 | No Runners |
Saturday 16th November 24 | 2.20pm – Janidil, 4.00pm Korinthia |
Sunday 17th November 24 | 1.10pm Full Confession, 4.00pm Jarrive De Mee & Full Confession |
Saturday 16th November 2024
2:20 Cheltenham – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2m4f ITV: JANIDIL
10 year-old, who is owned by the legendary JP McManus, who has never won the Paddy Power Gold Cup. If Janidil does run, he’ll also be looking to become the first winner aged in double-figure since Clear Cut won in 1975.
Comes here having last raced in the summer, when in action twice in five days at the Galway Festival. The first saw him fall in the Galway Plate and was then a fair third in the Kinlay Hostel Chase.
Festival fans will be familiar with Janidil too – he ran in the Stayers’ Hurdle but was 11th (of 12). While in past season’s also ran in the 2020 Albert Bartlett (5th) and 2022 & 2023 Ryanair Chase (2nd) and (7th).
You can watch Janidil’s second in the 2022 Ryanair Chase here.
4:00 – Karndean Designflooring Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m½ RTV: KORINTHIA
Patrick Mullins has been booked to ride this Jukebox Jury 4 year-old filly, so there is a good chance she’ll be a Willie Mullins Cheltenham runner this weekend.
She heads to this mares’ only NH Flat race having won both starts – one at Wexford and the other at Limerick.
While this is a race the Willie Mullins yard took 12 months ago with Baby Kate.
Sunday 17th November 2024
1:10 – Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle 2m½f RTV: FULL CONFESSION
This 4 year-old is also entered in the NH Flat race at the end of the card, so we’ll have to see where he ends up (if running at all).
Sired by the 2014 St Leger winner Kingston Hill, he caught the eye on debut when winning a NH Flat race at Fairyhouse on only Tuesday 12th November. Therefore, this would be a quick turnaround if he does head to Prestbury Park this Sunday.
4:00 – Junior Jumpers Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m 1/2f: JARRIVE DE MEE & FULL CONFESSION
In addition to Full Confession maybe running here (instead of the 1:10pm), Willie Mullins could also run Jarrive De Mee.
This 5 year-old is by former Derby winner Authorized but has been in action in the Point arena.
Running fourth on debut a year ago and then winning at Curraghmore earlier this year in April.
He looks another useful recruit to the Mullins yard and the market with the best betting sites in the UK will be a good guide to his chance here.