Willie Mullins novice hurdlers to follow for next season Once more, Willie Mullins was utterly dominant in the National Hunt season that just ended as he was crowned champion trainer in both Ireland and Britain. The Closutton powerhouse held off Dan Skelton to win the UK Championship for the second time, while at home his stranglehold meant a 19th title was secured with minimal fuss. As the dust settles on another cracking season for Mullins, we're pinpointing some of his novice hurdlers that should be exciting for the new season when they come back in. BoyleSports Betting Offer If you already have a BoyleSports account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Kopek Des Bordes Unbeaten in his first four starts under Rules, Kopek Des Bordes delivered one of the standout performances of the season at the Dublin Racing Festival when he blew away some good horses in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. He followed that up with a second Grade 1 in justifying favouritism for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, fending off a smart prospect in William Munny in the Cotswolds. He came a cropper at Punchestown in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle but Patrick Mullins and Paul Townend perhaps went off a bit too fast in that contest for their own goods. Salvator Mundi was only second under Mullins, while Kopek Des Bordes was beaten tamely in four as Willie Mullins still managed to train the first four finishers in the Grade 1 with Irancy scoring nicely under Mark Walsh. That run looks best forgiven and it was a third Grade 1 in fairly quick succession for Kopek Des Bordes. He remains a very exciting prospect for next season. Excited for the PGA Championship? Check out our new guide to the best golf betting sites. Final Demand Final Demand had the reverse Cheltenham/Punchestown experience compared to Kopek Des Bordes. He, too, was very impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival when defeating Wingmen in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle over 2m6f. He suffered his first career defeat in the Turners at Cheltenham as top British novice The New Lion won, with The Yellow Clay in second spot. At Punchestown, Gordon Elliott's charge started favourite to uphold the form but Final Demand was having none of it. He dominated from the front with Paul Townend telling his owner he was going out to 'show him off' in setting the pace. He left his rivals trailing behind and next season promises to be very exciting, with novice chasing perhaps next for this strong stayer. Jarrive De Mee One of the Closutton bunch that was unable to land a graded success but, nonetheless, Jarrive De Mee offered up more than enough to be looking to next season with plenty of enthusiasm. The Authorized gelding was a point winner for Donnachadh Doyle in the spring of 2024 and would land hurdles successes at Thurles, Catterick and Haydock on his first three runs for Mullins. At Haydock in March he scored in wide-margin fashion under Patrick Mullins when defeating a fair benchmark in Starcrossed Lover in a common canter. He took his shot at a Grade 1 at Punchestown in three-mile Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle but was only fourth as Albert Bartlett winner Jasmin De Vaux defied some awkward jumping to prevail from Aintree winner Honesty Policy. It was a solid effort from Jarrive De Mee and perhaps three-miles was on the limit in terms of stamina. It was his first crack in graded company and he's very lightly-raced so the six-year-old is one to keep in mind for next season.
