Support For Mullins To Rule The Roost At Cheltenham

Favourite Willie Mullins has been backed into Even money from 5/4 to claim the Top Trainer crown at Cheltenham for the fifth year out of the last six.

The Clonsutton handler’s cohort is expected to include 6/4 antepost favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Getabird,

…as well as last year’s Ryanair Chase winner Un De Sceaux, who is 5/2 favourite to become only the second dual winner of the race.

Mullins’ main rival in the market is compatriot Gordon Elliott, who walked away with the honours at last year’s Festival with six winners and who currently holds the edge in the Irish National Hunt Trainers’ Championship.

Support for Elliott has also seen his price squeezed into 7/4 from 2/1, while Nicky Henderson, who opened up at 2/1, has been pushed out to 5/2 despite a sending a team which currently includes favourites in three of the four Championship races.

*Prices correct at time of publication