Successful Trainers at Cheltenham
Recent Cheltenham Festivals confirm Willie Mullins as the trainer to beat.. His stable is able to contest championship races, novice races and handicaps on all 4 days. Mullins was the leading trainer in 2024 with 9 winners; 2025 with 10 winners and 2026 with 8 winners, thus gaining an eighth successive title.
He has a record of considerable success in the Gold Cup. Galopin Des Champs (2023) and (2024) and Gaelic Warrior (2026) are the respective winners, while the 2026 victory for the latter brought Mullins his fifth success in the race equaling Tom Dreaper’s record as the highest winning trainer of the race. His success is not just confined to the Gold Cup but also to the Queen Mother Champion Chase, won in 2026 by Il Etait Temps and the Champion Hurdle in 2026 by Lossiemouth.
However, he has faced opposition for a trainer’s title with varying degrees of consistency. Gavin Cromwell, particularly in recent years, has made a strong impression. His success with Irish point winner Inothewayurthinkin beating Galopin Des Champs on the way to an impressive 2025 Gold Cup success provides one of the notable results in the history of the Festival. The trainer has also enjoyed success in staying races and the Cross Country Chase, making him one of Ireland’s most reliable operators at the Festival.
Another trainer that requires serious respect is Henry de Bromhead, who has achieved the feat of winning the Champion Chase (2024) with Captain Guinness and the Stayers’ Hurdles (2025) with Bob Olinger. Gordon Elliott also continues to record wins and was the trainer of Teahupoo (2024 Stayers’ Hurdle winner). He is able to compete with Mullins for novices and handicaps.
British trainers have also managed to record respectable success. In 2024, Dan Skelton was the runner up to Mullins with 4 winners, while Jeremy Scott trained Golden Ace to a surprise 2025 Champion Hurdle victory at 25-1.
When studying a Cheltenham Festival, past records have some value but should be considered with caution. The present stable form of the runners, their course experience and suitability for the race as well as the trainer’s overall strength of team are a far more reliable guide for the serious reader or amateur punter.
Successful Owners at Cheltenham
It is difficult not to associate successful ownership at Cheltenham with JP McManus whose familiar green and gold silks appear at many a festival fixture. Not only was he leading owner in 2023 but he recaptured the top spot in 2025 with 6 winners, including the Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin. Spread amongst various good trainers, his horses are well represented in the championship races, novice races and handicaps.
Rich and Susannah Ricci have had tremendous success with trainer Willie Mullins and their colours have adorned the backsides of 2026 Champion Hurdle winner Lossiemouth as well as Gaelic Warrior providing Rich Ricci with his first win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2026.
The dual Gold Cup winning Galopin Des Champs was owned by Greg and Audrey Turley while the colours of Gigginstown House Stud also represent a strong influence in ownership terms. Ultimately successful owners are likely to combine investment with intelligent planning and a close working relationship with their trainer.