ON a crystal-clear February morning, Closutton gallops are alive with dozens of horses working under the watchful eye of training maestro Willie Mullins. The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is on and the finetuning has commenced for a star-studded cast that includes defending Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs, Champion Hurdle contender State Man and all-conquering, two-mile chaser El Fabiolo.
The Co Carlow handler has been hailed a genius, reigning as Ireland's champion trainer for the past 17 years, winning all of the sport's major prizes and smashing the record books during his ascent. Willie looks set to cement his place in legend yet further if the most successful trainer in Festival history can build on his record 94 winners and smash the 100 barrier.
"We have some fantastic horses going over, from stars like Galopin through to the bumpers and we're strong in most divisions," he says. "I'm just trying to get the team there in good order and hopefully a few will rise to the top."
The sheer scale of this operation becomes apparent as soon as we drive through the iron gates. The roster of morning duties is in full swing around an expansive maze of barns - home to more than 150 horses - walkers, horseboxes and tack and feed rooms.
I'm immediately drawn to a near-black face watching proceedings over his stable door in the main yard - Galopin Des Champs oozes A-list status and Adam Connolly, who has the enviable role of looking after the country's highest rated horse, is tacking up, ready to join the 20 other stable stars now circling.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 07, 2024-Ausgabe von Horse & Hound.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 07, 2024-Ausgabe von Horse & Hound.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Jappeloup
A small horse who looked like two halves put together’, Jappeloup nonetheless proved to have a big heart and a huge talent”.
Collett takes two
A bumper fixture hosts 12 intermediate and open intermediate sections, as Paris contenders blow away the cobwebs
Capitalise on buyers' remorse
Equestrian properties might be in short supply, but prices are back to normal after the Covid frenzy as the capital lures buyers again
Games making
Equestrianism will be in the thick of the action in Paris, but the logistics of hosting Olympics in the heart of an iconic city are a challenge. Kate Johnson asks organisers, riders and grooms for their memories of urban Olympic sites
On the bench
Being picked as the \"fourth man\" to support a three-man Olympic team, ready to step in at any moment in the competition, requires a resilient and unflinchingly sportsmanlike mindset.
A brush with the Games
Want to know what really goes into preparing an Olympic campaign? Bethany Stone speaks to top industry grooms with star-studded CVs for the scoop
One moment in time
The Olympics is the zenith of an athlete's career but precious few scale those giddy heights. Sue Polley asks four British Olympians about their most memorable experiences
'Pride? I just felt relief
Blyth Tait on jumping barn roofs, \"freezing\" in the Atlanta heat and the day his eight-year-old prodigy won Olympic gold
Mental health advocate
Harry Dunlop retired from training in 2022, having held his licence for 16 years. He founded the Trainer Support Network in 2023
Hugo Simon
The six-time Olympian tells Bernard Bale about his \"extraterrestrial\" string of horses, changing nationality and his success at the boycotted Games