If you’ve followed a Willie Mullins season before, you’ll know the rhythm: a quiet(ish) start, Leopardstown wakes things up, the Dublin Racing Festival lights the fuse, and by Cheltenham week Closutton turns into a travelling circus of Grade-1 talent. Then it’s Aintree, Ayr, Punchestown — and usually a tidy Sandown raid to close. It isn’t swagger; it’s logistics. When your yard is this deep, the hardest call is who goes where. This Willie Mullins horses to follow 2025/26 guide picks out eight stable stars to track through the jumps season.
This is your friendly, pub-table shortlist of Willie Mullins horses to follow 2025/26: eight runners with proven form, clear identities and sensible spring targets. No jargon, no crystal balls — just recent evidence from Cheltenham and Aintree, a read on likely trips (2m, 2m4f, 3m) and which Mullins stable stars are most likely to make noise when it matters. Grab a pint, open your tracker, and let’s line up the ones to watch.
Context helps. The Willie Mullins stable didn’t just roar through the festivals; he also defended the British trainers’ title after a dramatic final-day surge at Sandown, with big late wins from the likes of Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps tipping the balance. That matters for us punters and fans because it shows how he campaigns: he’s happy to travel, to split aces, and to use late-season opportunities to keep good horses sweet. It also means the stable stars you follow now are likely to keep turning up in the right races later. For a wider look at the leading yards, check our Top trainers to follow in the 2025/26 National Hunt season. Grab a pint, open your tracker, and let’s line up the ones to watch.
Why follow the Willie Mullins yard this season?
Because in National Hunt racing, evidence beats vibes. In March, Fact To File absolutely cantered away with the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Two days earlier, Lossiemouth retained the Mares’ Hurdle by a street. In April, Nick Rockett won the Grand National and led a historic 1–2–3 for the yard. Meanwhile Galopin Des Champs only found one too good in a dramatic Gold Cup, but remains the standard-bearer at 3m+. That’s a spine any trainer would kill for — Mullins has it all in one place. For background and up-to-date stats, see Willie Mullins’ Horse Racing Ireland trainer profile
Cheltenham Festival 2025: takeaways for Willie Mullins horses to follow
Cheltenham is still the best truth-serum in jump racing, and Mullins left the 2025 Festival with plenty of answers.
Lossiemouth: mares’ hurdle dominance
Lossiemouth looked untouchable in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, defending her crown by seven and a half lengths and keeping a flawless Cheltenham record intact (Triumph 2023, Mares’ 2024 & 2025). That kind of streak matters: it tells you she handles the place, the crowd, and the pressure — and when mares line up at 2m–2m4f this season, she’s the name everyone else has to plan around.
Fact To File: the Ryanair romp
Then there was Fact To File in the Ryanair. Some performances make you sit back and laugh; this was one of them. He cruised nine lengths clear, travelling like a horse who can boss 2m4f on the bridle and still have something left if connections fancy a stretch to three miles later in the year. File him under “smooth operator” — the type who makes good fields look ordinary.
File him alongside the Mullins stable stars that shape the 2m4f–3m picture every spring.
Gold Cup takeaways for Willie Mullins horses to follow
The Gold Cup produced drama and a changing of the guard. Inothewayurthinkin (supplemented late) out-stayed Galopin Des Champs, denying him a third win and underlining how hard it is to keep a crown at staying trips. For us, the takeaway isn’t that Galopin is done — far from it — but that the division has a genuine rival who can test him deep off a strong pace. Galopin finished a clear second and still sets the standard for many of the season’s Grade-1s at three miles.
And then came the Champion Hurdle, a race we’ll be talking about for years — for the chaos as much as the form. Both Constitution Hill and State Man fell, and Golden Ace came through for a shock win. If you’re wondering what to do with State Man now, the sensible view is: treat it as an anomaly. His body of work says he’s the safest 2m hurdler to follow, and he reminded everyone of that at Punchestown later in the spring.
Put the pieces together and the picture is pretty friendly to Closutton: an imperious mare (Lossiemouth), an effortless intermediate chaser (Fact To File), a still-elite stayer (Galopin), and a two-miler with unfinished business (State Man). Add Aintree into the mix — we’ll come to that next — and it’s no wonder Mullins needed extra luggage for the trophies.
If you’re plotting the season map, remember the usual stepping stones: Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, the Dublin Racing Festival, then the Cheltenham Festival, with Aintree and Punchestown rounding off the spring. For exact dates, trials and entry pointers, bookmark our National Hunt 2025/26 calendar. That’s the backbone of a Mullins campaign — and where these horses tend to peak.
Willie Mullins horses to follow (2025/26): the shortlist
Below are the eight best horses to follow from the Willie Mullins yard for the 2025/26 jumps season. For a broader, yard-agnostic view, see our Horses to Follow 2025/26 jumps season guide.
Galopin Des Champs (staying chaser)
Two Gold Cups in the bag already, and in 2025 he finished runner-up to a late-entered, rampant Inothewayurthinkin. If you’re “judging greatness”, finishing second while aiming at a third Gold Cup still screams elite. He also racked up another Irish Gold Cup before Cheltenham, because of course he did. Expect the usual winter prep, then all roads to March. He’s still the benchmark over staying fences.
Why follow: the class hasn’t gone anywhere; the trip is his wheelhouse; he’ll be single figures for every Grade 1 at three miles.
Likely target: Cheltenham Gold Cup route (Irish Gold Cup, then the Gold Cup).
Fact To File (intermediate chaser)
You know those races where your brain goes “this is over” at the top of the hill? That was the Ryanair Chase. Fact To File travelled like a Rolls-Royce and put nine lengths on them without breaking sweat — and that after winning the Brown Advisory the year before. He looks tailor-made for top 2m4f–3m targets, and you could imagine connections flirting with 3m championship races in spring if the season smooths out.
Why follow: he’s the division’s smooth operator — pace, jump, gears — with potential to stretch to the very top at 3m.
Likely target: Ryanair Chase / King George; possible step up to the Gold Cup if all goes smoothly.
Lossiemouth (mares’ hurdler)
Did she defend her Mares’ Hurdle crown easily? Oh yes. Official press called it seven and a half lengths; it looked more. Three Festivals, three wins (Triumph 2023, Mares’ 2024 & 2025). She’s the queen of the division, and when she’s right, she toys with good mares. If they fancy mixing it outside mares-only company, she still has the engine to land big pots at 2m–2m4f.
Why follow: reliability + class. If she turns up, she’s very hard to beat against her own sex.
Likely target: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle hat-trick; flexible for open Grade 1s at 2m–2m4f.
State Man (2m hurdler)
Cheltenham owed him one and… well, racing happened. He fell at the last in the Champion Hurdle with the race at his mercy on a day when both he and Constitution Hill came down. He bounced back later in the spring — because good horses do. Expect the usual winter dominance in Ireland, then another crack at the big one. The division is wide-open enough for redemption.
Why follow: rock-solid Grade-1 level, and there’s unfinished business at Cheltenham.
Likely target: Champion Hurdle redemption, via Irish Grade 1s through the winter.
Nick Rockett (marathon chaser)
Fairytale stuff: Grand National winner at 33/1, ridden by Patrick Mullins, and the head of a Mullins 1–2–3. He stayed, he jumped, he kept finding on the run-in — the full Aintree package. With that aerodynamic National profile, spring marathons (Aintree again, Irish National trials, maybe a bid for Scotland) make total sense. A proper stayer has arrived.
Why follow: once you’ve proved you get four-and-a-bit miles and 30 fences, you’re a player every April.
Likely target: Aintree Grand National defence; spring marathon chases (Scottish/Irish Nationals).
Gaelic Warrior (top-class chaser, versatile trip)
Arkle winner of 2024, engine to burn, and a temper that sometimes needs managing. Connections have tinkered with headgear and trip; when he’s switched on, he’s electric. He added key spring form in 2025 and was instrumental in Mullins’s late surge for the British trainers’ title at Sandown. If the jumping flows, he can point at top 2m–2m4f chases all season.
Why follow: huge raw ability; if they lock in a rhythm, he’s Grade-1 dangerous anywhere.
Likely target: top 2m–2m4f chases — Tingle Creek, Dublin Racing Festival, Champion Chase picture.
Impaire Et Passe (intermediate novice chaser turned Grade-1 winner)
He skipped Cheltenham to arrive fresh at Aintree — and won the Manifesto Novices’ Chase (G1), travelling and jumping like the horse many expected to see all winter. This is a proper 2m4f chaser with options: step down for speed tests, stay at intermediate trips, or try three miles later. Sandown and Aintree form says the engine is humming again.
Why follow: back to his best over fences; looks the finished article for 2m4f Grade-1 chases.
Likely target: intermediate Grade 1s at 2m4f; Manifesto form suggests a Festival tilt.
El Fabiolo (2m chaser – the comeback watch)
When he’s right, he’s a 2-mile wrecking ball. When he’s not, the jumping can unravel (see the Dublin Chase spill). The good news from the yard post-race was that he was fine physically, so 2025/26 becomes a reset year. If they freshen him up and rebuild confidence, he’s still capable of bossing the two-mile scene. High-risk, high-reward follow – and that’s half the fun.
Why follow: ceiling remains sky-high; if the kinks are ironed out, he’s championship-level again.
Likely target: rebuild for the 2m championship trail — Dublin Chase to Champion Chase if all is well.
Quick view: Willie Mullins stable stars at a glance
A quick snapshot of our Willie Mullins horses to follow for the 2025/26 jumps season:
| Horse | Discipline | What they just did | Likely 2025/26 focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galopin Des Champs | Staying chaser | 2nd in 2025 Gold Cup; Irish Gold Cup winner | Grade-1 staying chases, Gold Cup route again |
| Fact To File | 2m4f–3m chaser | Ryanair Chase (G1) romp | Ryanair/King George/Gold Cup flirt |
| Lossiemouth | Mares’ hurdler | Back-to-back Mares’ Hurdle titles | Mares’ Hurdle hat-trick bid / open G1s |
| State Man | 2m hurdler | Fell in 2025 Champion Hurdle; spring rebound | Champion Hurdle redemption arc |
| Nick Rockett | Marathon chaser | Won Grand National; led Mullins 1–2–3 | Spring marathons (Aintree/Scottish) |
| Gaelic Warrior | 2m–2m4f chaser | Arkle 2024; big spring 2025; key to UK title push | Tingle Creek/Dublin/Champion Chase type |
| Impaire Et Passe | 2m4f chaser | Manifesto Novices’ Chase (G1) winner | Intermediate Grade-1s; possible step up |
| El Fabiolo | 2m chaser | Fell in Dublin Chase; reported fine | Rebuild confidence; top 2m targets |
(Table is a guide, not gospel. Targets move, horses tell you when they’re ready.)
How we picked our Willie Mullins horses to follow (simple criteria for National Hunt fans)
For this horses to follow list, we kept the criteria simple:
- Recent Grade-1 impact: wins/placings in spring festivals (Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown).
- Clear trip identity: they have a lane — 2m speed, 2m4f gears, 3m stamina — and form to prove it.
- Stable context: Mullins’s campaign patterns matter (which ones he freshens, which ones he targets early).
- Ceiling vs. risk: we’ve included a couple with “if it clicks…” profiles (El Fabiolo, Gaelic Warrior) because upside wins seasons.
FAQ: Willie Mullins horses to follow 2025/26
Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, Lossiemouth, State Man, Nick Rockett, Gaelic Warrior, Impaire Et Passe and El Fabiolo — eight proven names with recent festival form and clear trip identities.
No. Targets are likely rather than guaranteed and can change with ground, fitness and stable plans. We outline realistic routes (e.g., Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Ryanair, Grand National) based on recent evidence.
Regularly during the jumps season. Last updated: 26 Sep 2025. We refresh notes after key meetings like Leopardstown (Christmas), the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.
Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival, Aintree’s Grand National meeting and Punchestown. That’s the backbone of a Willie Mullins campaign.
No — it’s plain-English insight for National Hunt fans. If you do place a bet, keep it fun: 18+ and gamble responsibly. See our Responsible Gambling page or visit BeGambleAware.org.
Final thoughts: how to follow Willie Mullins horses this jumps season
Spring confirmed what winter hinted. At Aintree, Impaire Et Passe skipped Cheltenham, turned up fresh, and won the Manifesto Novices’ Chase (G1) with the kind of clean jumping and mid-race cruise you want from a proper 2m4f horse. In the same meeting, the story of the week belonged to Nick Rockett, a 33/1 winner of the Grand National who spearheaded an extraordinary Mullins 1–2–3 — the sort of result that says as much about stable depth as it does about staying power.
Sandown finale: title defence and smart placement
Fast-forward to Sandown’s finale, and you got a front-row seat to Mullins-maths: send the right horses to the right races and the prize-money takes care of itself. Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps landed key blows on the day and the trainer defended the British title — a neat reminder that he’ll travel and place aggressively when it suits the horse. For us, that means the ones on your tracker won’t be wrapped in cotton wool. Expect bold entries, split aces, and the odd left-field target if the ground, trip or opposition line up.
El Fabiolo: the comeback watch
One more for the notebook: if El Fabiolo resurfaces happy after his Dublin Chase tumble (the yard reported him fine afterwards), he’s still a two-mile wrecking ball on his day. If you see him jump clean early, don’t overthink it — just enjoy the show.
So here’s your simple plan for 2025/26: let Lossiemouth and State Man guide you through the hurdles map, use Fact To File as your 2m4f–3m compass, keep Galopin as the staying benchmark, and save a spring-marathon slot for Nick Rockett. If Gaelic Warrior starts pinging again and Impaire Et Passe keeps that Aintree rhythm, you’ll have more than enough reasons to shout at the telly before last orders. And if you only remember one thing, make it this: our Willie Mullins horses to follow 2025/26 are built on recent evidence, not hype — a friendly, plain-English guide for National Hunt fans.
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