Patrick Mullins' best chances at the Festival

Patrick Mullins is a big part of the team at Closutton and will be eager to add more Cheltenham Festival success to his own impressive CV this season.

The only son of Willie Mullins, Patrick is steeped in racing pedigree and is the heir-apparent to his father at Closutton.

Currently he's the leading amateur rider at the yard, getting his leg up on a host of exciting bumper contenders each season and is closing in on a milestone of 1000 winners in the saddle having steered Jasmin De Vaux to land the Weatherbys Champion Bumper last season, giving Willie his 100th Cheltenham Festival winner as a trainer.

Champion Bumper picture steeped in mystery

As is often the case, Patrick Mullins' rides at the Festival are unlikely to become crystal clear until closer to the action getting underway.

That is definitely the case this year in regards to the Champion Bumper, a contest his father has won an incredible 13 times already.

For his part, Patrick has been in the plate for the wins of Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Facile Vega (2022) and Jasmin De Vaux last year as he fittingly broke through the century barrier and gave a wonderful insight into what makes his father tick when he spoke to Racing TV afterwards.

This time around, Patrick has some thinking to do. At the time of writing his father can still count eight possible contenders for the day two finale.

The mare Bambino Fever took favouritism after the Dublin Racing Festival, where Patrick's mount Future Prospect flopped, though it's too soon to write her off.

Copacabana made a fine first impression in his February win at Navan, while Gameofinches has since done likewise at Punchestown — both ridden by Patrick.

They are the front two in the market for now at around 4/1 and wherever Patrick hangs his breeches may ultimately decide which starts favourite on March 12th.

National Hunt Cup always a target

Patrick has ridden the winner in the National Hunt Cup on four occasions, with Back In Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018), Stattler (2022) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023) all coming home in front.

Sa Majeste, Captain Cody and Klarc Kent are amongst the possible Closutton contenders this year.

A Grade 2 winner over hurdles at Fairyhouse last spring, Captain Cody is interesting. He has run well in all three qualifying runs and was a close-up third behind a stout stayer in Three Card Brag at Navan (3m, soft) in January, finishing the race off strongly.

He could be one that will improve generously tackling this three-and-three-quarter-mile trip, though the traditional stipulation that only amateur jockeys can ride in the race has been removed, so the challenge is tougher still.

The Kim Muir now becomes even more of a target for the top amateur pilots. Sa Majeste has an entry here as well, alongside Iris Emery for Willie Mullins.

Ireland's champion trainer doesn't have a contender in the St. James's Place Hunters' Chase but given Patrick Mullins' impressive record as an amateur with over 800 winners on his CV, he's unlikely to be left twiddling his thumbs in the weighing room for the race billed as the amateur riders Gold Cup.

He'll also come in for plenty of opportunities elsewhere for his father, picking up rides on decent horses from Closutton behind the likes of Paul Townend and Danny Mullins, and he has proved himself well capable of shining on the biggest stages against professional riders.

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