Mullins continues to break records Willie Mullins was crowned champion trainer for the sixth successive year with nearly €4 million in win and place prize-money and 193 winners as a memorable season for the Closutton maestro drew to a close at Punchestown yesterday. A record-breaking campaign for Mullins produced over 200 winners worldwide, and he smashed the previous best of 155 by Aidan O’Brien in the 1995/96 National Hunt season. Mullins saddled a record 13 winners at the Punchestown Festival this week, including 7 Grade 1’s, eclipsing his previous best of 12 gained at the meeting both in 2009 and 2010. Indeed he won all six Grade 1 races on the final three days of the meeting, and had the first four home in the AES Champion 4YO Hurdle yesterday. Ruby Walsh also played his part in the Mullins success with eight winners for the champion trainer at the Co. Kildare track this week to give him the leading rider title at the Festival. Thursday proved a particularly fruitful day for the pair, with Walsh riding four of Mullins’ five winners on the card. However Walsh’s efforts were not quite enough to peg back Davy Russell in the National Hunt jockeys championship, with the Youghal rider retaining his title by two (103-101). Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney made presentations at Punchestown yesterday to all the championship winners. Patrick Mullins, who broke the 97-year record of Billy Parkinson for winners in a calendar year at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, took the leading amateur award with 68 winners. Mark Enright was the top claiming rider this season with 35 wins, while Gigginstown House Stud reclaimed the owners crown from J P McManus. Stan James have issued prices on the 2013/14 jump jockeys title race, and make Ruby Walsh odds-on to regain the championship from Davy Russell. NH Jockeys Title 2013/14: 8/11 Ruby Walsh, 1/1 Davy Russell, 14/1 Bryan Cooper, 16/1 Paul Townend, 25/1 Patrick Mullins, Paul Carberry, 33/1 Barry Geraghty, 50/1 Andrew Lynch.
