Greatest Irish horse racing trainers

Every year at the Cheltenham Festival, the Prestbury Cup is contested between Great Britain and Ireland, with trainers going head-to-head over the course of the week.

Great Britain won the first two editions in 2014 and 2015, but since then, with the exception of the 14-14 tie in 2019, the Irish have dominated, largely thanks to the exploits of Willie Mullins, who in 2024 won a landmark 100th Festival race.

Below we look at some of Ireland's top trainers and their leading horses.

Willie Mullins

A 17-time Irish National Hunt Champion Trainer (who, in 2024 became the first trainer based in Ireland to win Britain's Champion Trainer title since Vincent O'Brien in 1954), saddling over 100 Cheltenham Festival winners, Willie Mullins will forever go down as one of horse racing's greats.

To name but a few, Mullins' yard has over the years contained the likes of Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Faugheen, Annie Power, Al Boum Photo, Vautour and countless other leading horses.

A four-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, a two-time Champion Chase winner, a five-time Champion Hurdle winner, a five-time Ryanair Chase winner and a two-time Stayers' Hurdle winner, 18 of Mullins' Cheltenham Festival winners have come in the five Championship races.

He also has two Grand National wins to his name, and will look for more success in the 2025 National Hunt calendar with the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Energumene, I Am Maximus, State Man, Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior, Impaire Et Passe and Lossiemouth.

Gordon Elliott

Twice taking top trainer honours at the Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott is perhaps the best Irish trainer aside from Willie Mullins, racking up 40 Cheltenham Festival winners through his career.

First rising to prominence with his maiden Grand National entry, Silver Birch, who won the Aintree spectacle in 2007, Elliott would have to wait until 2011 for a first Festival winner.

He's since trained Don Cossack to Gold Cup glory, with the legendary Tiger Roll twice winning the Grand National, and finding the Cheltenham winners' enclosure four times.

Elliott has won the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham five times (three times with Tiger Roll) - tied with Enda Bolger for the most wins in the race - and will look for more success in the 2024/25 National Hunt season with the likes of Brighterdaysahead and Teahupoo, with Minella Crooner amongst the leading contenders for the Grand National.

Henry de Bromhead

Although not boasting the depth of Gordon Elliott's yard, Henry de Bromhead consistently boasts some of the best horses in Ireland.

De Bromhead has saddled 23 Cheltenham Festival winners, including Gold Cup winners in Minello Indo and the great A Plus Tard, but his best-known charge is perhaps the two-time Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle.

De Bromhead has also seen success with the likes of Envoi Allen and Put The Kettle On, as well as winning the Grand National with Minella Times, and will bid for more in 2025 with the likes of Captain Guinness, Quilixios and Gorgeous Tom.

Gavin Cromwell

Not quite as esteemed as some of his Irish counterparts, Gavin Cromwell is nevertheless building an impressive resume, with Flooring Porter his most successful horse to date.

A two-time Stayers' Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Flooring Porter was second in the race last year, initially landing Grade 1 honours at the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle in 2020.

Cromwell also saddled 2024 Grand National hopeful Limerick Lace, who went off 7/1 joint favourite, albeit ultimately finishing 10th.

While his best years may be behind him, Vanillier is another of Cromwell's most prominent horses, landing the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.