Willie Mullins And Nicky Henderson Still Trainers To Back

Whataretheodds » Cheltenham Festival » Willie Mullins And Nicky Henderson Still Trainers To Back

I’ve been following National Hunt racing for a long time, and when I look at the training ranks, two names consistently stand out as the pillars of consistency and excellence: Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson. Despite the constant emergence of new talent, these two giants of the sport remain, in my view, the most reliable trainers to follow. Their dominance isn’t just about having the best horses; it’s about a proven, decades-long track record of preparing them for the biggest days.

Let’s start with Willie Mullins. His operation is nothing short of a powerhouse. What continues to impress me is the sheer depth of his talent. It’s not just that he has the favourite for a championship race; he often has the second, third, and fourth favourites too. His ability to place his horses perfectly, from Grade 1 novices to competitive handicaps, is unparalleled. When I see the Closutton silks, especially at the Cheltenham Festival, my confidence automatically rises. He is a master of his craft.

Then there’s Nicky Henderson. While his public persona might be more understated, his record at the highest level speaks for itself. Seven Champion Hurdle wins and multiple Gold Cups tell you everything you need to know. His yard at Seven Barrows is a production line for classy, often brilliant, jumpers. I have immense respect for his patient, careful approach with his horses. He brings them to the track at the right time, peaking for the major festivals, and his horses often seem to jump with a unique fluency.

I appreciate that they represent two different racing cultures—Mullins the Irish juggernaut and Henderson the standard-bearer for British racing—but their principles are the same: quality, preparation, and an uncanny ability to win the big races. For a punter like me, this provides a fantastic strategic base. I know that a significant portion of the winners at any major meeting will come from these two yards. It’s not a guess; it’s a statistical probability.

Of course, I don’t blindly back every runner they send out. The prices on their shortest-priced horses can be prohibitive. The real value for me often lies with their second or third strings in a race. A Mullins horse that isn’t the stable’s first jockey choice can still be a Grade 1 animal in its own right and can start at a much more appealing price. The same goes for a Henderson runner in a hotly contested handicap.

The competition is fiercer than ever, with trainers like Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, and Dan Skelton all operating at an incredibly high level. But for pure, sustained excellence and an almost gravitational pull towards the winner’s enclosure on the biggest stages, Mullins and Henderson remain in a league of their own for me. They have adapted and evolved over the years, maintaining their dominance through changing eras.

So, when I’m studying the form and building my bets, the first thing I do is look for the Mullins and Henderson entries. Their presence in a race fundamentally shapes my thinking. They have earned my trust over countless seasons. While I always do my deeper form analysis, starting with these two master trainers is my foundation. In my opinion, they are, and will remain for the foreseeable future, the trainers to back.