The Mullins Racing Festival

[apracing]

Which just happens to be called the Dublin Racing Festival as a geographical cover story.

Of the four Grade 1 races on todays card, only the first is vaguely competitive. In the other three, Mullins trains 11 of the 12 horses currently quoted at 20 or less on Betfair.

I’m at a loss to see how this can possibly be regarded as an exciting meeting, even less as a shop window for Irish NH racing. It’s a one man exhibition event that might just as well be staged on the gallops at Mullins stable.

[Purwell]

I agree, it’s boring.

To be honest, I much prefer the intellectual challenge of finding winners of class 5 & 6 handicaps.

I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways

[IanDavies]

“I’m at a loss to see how this can possibly be regarded as an exciting meeting”

I think their version of the Arkle today is arguably the race of the weekend – at least he’s running his good 2m novice chasers against one another.

I’m really looking forward to the entire fixture – it’s the Cheltenham Festival WITHOUT the Peaky Blinders wannabe and WITH socks.

And over two days, not four.

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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Gladiateur]

Good point raised by Ruby Walsh on Road To Cheltenham this week: at least Willie’s horses are taking each other on. Where are everybody else’s horses?

[Cork All Star]

It depends how the racing goes. If the races produce exciting finishes, it will be OK. If it is a parade of Mullins odds on chances all hacking up, it will be a bit boring.

Although I don’t mind if Lossiemouth wins by half the track.

[IanDavies]

I think it’s going to be cracking BUT, just in case this Mullins aversion has legs, let’s all watch every Grade 1 over the two days where Mullins has two or more runners and see if there’s any of his beaten runners who didn’t like particularly, err, “busy” – in a Grade 1!

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Cork All Star]

It is a fair point by Walsh but he is still connected to the Mullins stable and wants to see its horses win.

Maybe the other trainers do not have horses good enough because Mullins has bought them all?

Mullins deserves credit for building up such a successful business and for running his best horses against each other. But top level sport does require competition. In the long run, it is not good for the sport when almost the entire field for a Grade 1 is trained by one trainer.

[He Didnt Like Ground]

I doubt the stewards will be watching as closely ….

Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

[sporting sam]

Is it as boring as horses staying at home on account of the going, and five runner fields?
No, that is boring.

[He Didnt Like Ground]

5 weeks to Cheltenham , will some of them leave there races here ….

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[Nathan Hughes]

^ potentially, the Irish Arkle could become a proper battle

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[worzelwaywardlad]

I don’t really want to see fields filled just by one trainer but as long as they are competitive then so be it. If Willie can run his horses here and have them ready for Cheltenham, then why can’t British trainers embrace this meeting? It’s not just about four days in March.

[He Didnt Like Ground]

I reckon the arkle and the gold cup could both be hard races , I’ve said it’s a poor GC but at least GDC is going on with some decent horses , will he stay …. will he jump , as good as Mullins is he’s won 2 GC with one horse , a horse given plenty time before chelt

Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

[Nathan Hughes]

Stattler could make it uncomfortable for him
however if he dispatches Stattler with distain it will enhance his chance.
Is he still in the Ryanair? Any news on Allaho?

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[Nathan Hughes]

Mullins not sighted in the first race..

Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

[Cork All Star]

Nice of Team Mullins to do their best to get one of their own odds on chances beaten.

[befair]

Most of the best horses are taking each other on, even if they do come from the same stable; can’t understand why more British trainers don’t enter (or go to France either)

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