Willie Mullins Starts Title Defense, With FIVE UK Saturday Runners

This weekend horse racing fans can expect to see more UK Willie Mullins runners as the top Irish trainer ramps-up this British Jump Trainers’ Championship title defense.

With entries for Mullins in the two big ITV Racing contests on Saturday at Newcastle and Newbury – that have over £200k on offer for the winners.

Willie Mullins UK Runners This Weekend See Entries In The Two Big Saturday Races

Despite being at the end of November, the current British jump champion trainer (who is Irish) hasn’t got going yet.

Willie Mullins hasn’t had any significant UK runners to dent his title defense – which has given last year’s runner-up Dan Skelton a huge head-start.

Skelton, who won last Saturday’s £100k Betfair Chase has already banked over £1.4m in total prize money, so Willie Mullins needs to get his skates on.

However, the British jump trainers’ championship betting odds are still making Mullins a 5/2 shot to peg Skelton back, who is the clear 1/3 favourite at this stage.

Last season the pair famously fought out the title on the final day of the 2024/25 jumps season at Sandown, with Mullins overhauling Skelton with three winners on the day.

But it seems this season Warwickshire-based Skelton wants to build up a bigger lead and will also then be hoping Mullins doesn’t have it off at the big Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.

Which might be wishful thinking – don’t forget Willie Mullins has won the Aintree Grand National for the last two seasons – banking £500k each time.

Anyway, all is setting up to be another fascinating trainers’ battle – can Skelton hold on this time?

Or will Mullins, who is getting going this weekend, land this third title on the bounce?

Where Is Willie Mullins In The British Trainers’ Championship Table 2025/26?

So we know Dan Skelton is ‘ripping it up’ in the British Jump Trainers’ Championship table so far – with over £1.4m won.

But you might be shocked to hear that Willie Mullins is way back in 257th place with only £5,090 won in total prize money.

Meaning Mullins will need to win almost £1.5m MORE than Dan Skelton, between now and the end of the season, if he wants to win the title for a third time.

Mullins Starts British Trainers’ Championship Defense This Weekend

As we know, things can change very quickly when it comes to Willie Mullins runners and mopping up lucrative races in the UK.

And this could be the case again after this weekend, as Mullins has big chances in both the £66k Fighting Fifth Hurdle and also the £142k Coral Gold Cup.

These figures are only for the winners too, so even some Mullins placed horses in these races will see him quickly shoot up the table and leave his 257th place behind.

Anzadam Looking To Give Mullins First Fighting Fifth Hurdle Win

The first big Willie Mullins UK runner this Saturday will be ANZADAM, who goes in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle at 2pm.

Last year he tried with Mystical Power, but he trailed in sixth behind Sir Gino.

In fact, Mullins has NEVER won this Grade One contest. However, this could be his best chance yet.

Anzadam has been billed as one of the next big Mullins star hurdlers after facile wins at Fairyhouse and Naas last season.

But then suffered a few setbacks and hasn’t been seen since the end of January.

Many thought he’d run in last weekend’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, but was pulled out in favour of this.

He’ll also represent last year’s winning owners (Donnellys), who took the prize with Sir Gino.

Anzadam certainly won’t have things his own way though as the 2022 winner Constitution Hill is back.

Plus will also meet one of the 2026 Champion Hurdle betting odds favourites – The New Lion, who is also trained by trainers’ title rival Dan Skelton.

Backers of Anzadam though will be pleased to hear Closutton’s number one rider Paul Townend is making the trip over to ride.

Anzadam is currently around 13/2 for the Champion Hurdle at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

💰First Prize: £66,549

WATCH: Anzadam Winning At Naas In January

Mullins Unleashes Four Coral Gold Cup Runners In Search Of £142k First Prize

In contrast to the Mullins record in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, his form in the Coral Gold Cup is slightly better with one win.

That sole success came in 2017 with Total Recall, with Paul Townend riding, and this year it looks like he means business in the race.

Willie Mullins has FOUR of the 24 entries – with O’MOORE PARK, BLIZZARD OF OZ, SPANISH HARLEM and A PENNY A HUNDRED all making the trip over from Ireland.

Nephew Danny Mullins will ride Spanish Harlem, who looks set to be the shortest-priced of the Mullins quartet at 14/1.

The seven year-old heads here on a three timer too after wins at Punchestown and Listowel, when taking the Kerry National.

UK racing folk will remember him running in the Scottish Grand National and being fourth in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season (watch below).

Double green retained jockey J J Slevin rides Blizzard Of Oz and he impressed with a win over fences at Wexford last time and is up just 6lbs.

Sean O’Keeffe gets the leg-up on the Rich Ricci-owned O’Moore Park, who is still hunting his first chase win (seven starts) but was a fair second last time at Galway.

Then 7lb claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell will gain some top experience on A Penny A Hundred – a Mullins runner that could go off as the outsider of the lot at 100/1.

With £142k going to the winner, this will be a big pot for Mullins to win.

Title race leader Dan Skelton has one previous win in this race (Le Milos, 2022) and has recent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Panic Attack and also Riskintheground entered.