WILLIE Mullins has been champion National Hunt trainer for the past 12 seasons.

Earlier this week the racing media visited his yard in Co Carlow for an event organised by Horse Racing Ireland to mark the ‘real’ launch of the National Hunt season.

The equine talent on show was breathtaking and very few people will be backing against him being champion once again this season.

Mullins will probably run in the region of 200 individual horses this season. Reported here are his current thoughts on approximately 50 of his best-known charges.

Al Boum Photo (FR)

7yo b g (F1O/112-)

Buck’s Boum – Al Gane

Mrs J Donnelly

We’ll try to get him out earlier this season and work towards the Gold Cup again. He’s well and I am waiting for the ground to come right. Last season was extraordinary for the fact that we had no rain. It all came in huge bouts but it didn’t rain consistently for long enough, so we didn’t have any heavy ground or soft ground. I think the word ‘heavy’ only appeared in the ground description four times last year - one of which was at Tramore where Al Boum Photo made his seasonal debut.

I’m hoping to get him out before New Year’s Day this season. He could go to Leopardstown but I don’t mind going back to Tramore again with him. It was a good starting point for him.

Allaho (FR)

5yo b g (2/4132-)

No Risk At All – Idaho Falls

Cheveley Park Stud

Once we get soft ground, he’s a horse I’m particularly looking forward to. He is a huge, fine, strong, galloping horse that everyone, any jockey, would love to sit on and go novice chasing with. He’s one that I’m really - I think the whole yard is - looking forward to watching him over fences.

Aramon (GER)

6yo b g (312626-)

Monsun – Aramina

Supreme Horse Racing Club & Michael Songer

I’m going to stay hurdling with him. Speaking to my jockeys, I wanted to go novice chasing and they were happier that he stays hurdling. They don’t think it would be any benefit. Hopefully, he’s good enough to stay at Grade 1 level, but he’ll be staying hurdling anyhow.

Bellshill (IRE)

9yo b g (41P4-)

King’s Theatre – Fairy Native

Andrea & Graham Wylie

Bellshill won the Irish Gold Cup last season, then was pulled up in Cheltenham. Ruby said he was very jarred. That just shows you how firm the ground at Leopardstown and other Irish tracks was all last season.

Tracks didn’t water in the winter and I would have been the last person to suggest Leopardstown should water, but if it’s coming around this year I think it has to be looked at because he just got so jarred up. Ruby pulled him up after two or three fences in Cheltenham last year. Even though he’s by King’s Theatre he’s one of those horses that needs very soft ground to be seen at his best.

Benie Des Dieux (FR)

8yo b m (1111/F1-1)

Great Pretender – Cana

Mrs S Ricci

Unlucky at Cheltenham, she won at Punchestown before winning the French Champion Hurdle. She could run in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. She has a lovely chase rating but I’d like to go for the Auteuil race and similar ones with her this year. Hopefully we can get some runs into her before Cheltenham.

Berkshire Royal (GB)

4yo b g (Flat: 12239-)

Sir Percy - Forest Express

Came here from Andrew Balding’s yard. He moves beautifully on the gallops and the formbook tells you that he once finished second to [Melbourne Cup winner] Cross Counter.

Blackbow (IRE)

6yo b g (1152/)

Stowaway – Rinnce Moll

Roaringwater Syndicate

He’s ready, he’s in good shape. A lot of horses are going to come ready at the one time and a lot of people, including myself, want to get them all going over jumps. But some of them might just have to go back in bumpers and maybe take a jump later on. It’s not something l like doing but, after not running a good few horses last season, I’m going to find myself with a backlog of horses. To avoid them all running against one another we might end up running some in bumpers.

Blazing Emily (IRE)

5yo b m (-1213)

Presenting – Blazing Tempo

K Alexander

She jumps fantastic and looks a real staying model. She’s out of the mare that won the Galway Plate, so she’s a stayer, out and out. I think I have her in a three-mile novice hurdle at the weekend. She’ll probably run there. I think she needs 2m 6f. She’s a natural jumper, and one I’m looking forward to going places with.

Blue Sari (FR)

4yo b g (12-)

Saddex – Blue Aster

J.P. McManus

Finished second in the Cheltenham Bumper. He will go hurdling this season and I imagine he will be a two and a half-mile type of horse.

Burrow Saint (FR)

6yo b g (41115-)

Saint Des Saints – La Bombonera

Mrs S Ricci

As an Irish Grand National winner, obviously he is in the staying division. It depends on his handicap mark whether we go down the Grand National route, but I think I want to try him in graded company. So we might go down that route and see what happens.

Cadmium (FR)

7yo b g (1344121-)

Early March – Mirquille

Supreme Horse Racing Club & Kenneth Sharp

Won the Topham at Aintree. I think two miles, or two and a half, is his trip and he seems to handle most types of ground. I imagine he is going to have to go into graded races.

Carefully Selected

7yo b g (1123/1-3)

Well Chosen – Knockamullen Girl

Miss M.A. Masterson

He’s a staying chaser. I’d be putting him in my three mile bracket. He’ll run whenever the ground comes up right and whatever chase happens to come up. I’m not too worried about the trip for his beginners’ chase. But I think he’ll be an RSA horse, hopefully, if everything goes right.

Cilaos Emery (Fr)

7yo b g (11251/42/1-)

Califet – Queissa

Luke McMahon

He had a setback last season after going chasing. He was a very good hurdler the season before. He could be a two-mile horse but I’d say he’s more middle-of-the-road, two and a half mile.

Chacun Pour Soi (Fr)

7yo b g (1253/11-)

Policy Maker – Kruscyna

Mrs S Ricci

He’s a horse that has been hard to train for the last few years. He’s in great shape now and schooled well the other day. He’s a small bit behind the others. He could go somewhere over two miles, maybe at Christmas. If I can get a run into him before that, I will. He could be one for the Hilly Way [at Cork in early December] as well.

Colreevy (IRE)

6yo b m (/1371/31-)

Flemensfirth – Poetics Girl

Mrs N Flynn

She’s in great shape, and has come back much stronger this season. She’ll start over hurdles and I want soft ground for her. I think she’s ready to go as soon as we get the weather.

Concertista (FR)

5yo ch m (2-)

Nathaniel – Zagzig

Simon Munir & Isaac Souede

Finished second in the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham on her only run for us. She’s a nice maiden to be going forward with this year. We’ll start her off in novice races and the mares’ novice hurdle in Cheltenham will again be her aim.

Douvan (FR)

9yo b g (11117/F2/)

Walk In The Park – Star Face

Mrs S Ricci

He seems in great shape. I’m absolutely delighted with him. What I have seen this year is that he’s back working the way he was two years ago. I wouldn’t have any problem going a longer trip with him. Maybe the John Durkan [at Punchestown in early December] could be a starting place for him.

Duc Des Genievres (FR)

6yo gr g (23113-)

Buck’s Boum – Lobelie

Sullivan Bldst Ltd

Won the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham on soft ground. I think we are going to give him an entry in the Tingle Creek. He will be going down that two-mile route, two or two and a half. He’s another one for the Hilly Way [at Cork in early December], those type of races.

Echoes In Rain (FR)

3yo b f (Flat: 4-1)

Authorized – Amarantine

Barnane Stud

She has shown us a lot in her homework. A lovely filly. She’s one that has come forward very quickly for me. Hopefully she is strong enough to take it. Looking at her this morning, I think she’s one who possibly could run sooner rather than later. A really nice acquisition, I just hope she’s not a morning glory.

Eglantine Du Seuil (FR)

5yo b m (/13133-)

Saddler Maker – Rixia Du Seuil

Sullivan Bldst Ltd

Won the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham, then finished third in Grade 1 races at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. I imagine I’m going to stay hurdling with her. She’ll probably go up to the staying division.

Elfile (FR)

5yo b m (1621-)

Saint Des Saints – Rapide

K Alexander

She’s staying hurdling. I would imagine she will go two and a half miles-plus. We will probably try and aim her at the mares’ hurdle in Cheltenham this year.

Fast Buck (FR)

5yo br g (231-12)

Kendargent – Juvenil Delinquent

Sullivan Bldst Ltd

He got beaten over a trip (2m 5f) the other day. I think he’s a two miler, maybe two and a quarter and he might even go two and a half, depending on the race. But at the moment I’d rather keep him to two miles. So he’ll go for the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.

Faugheen (IRE)

11yo b g (1P261/2F3P-)

Germany – Miss Pickering

Mrs S Ricci

I think I should have gone chasing with him last season. I blame myself for not doing that. We bought him as a chaser and he’s too young to retire. I don’t know whether he’s ever going to be good enough to go back to Cheltenham as a chaser, a novice chaser, but there’s plenty of other races to consider. We’ll aim him at whatever we can in Ireland. If he shows that he’s coming back to anything near his best, he’ll probably get an entry in Cheltenham, like most of mine do. It’s not what I’m aiming for. I’m aiming for a nice year with him, and if he could win a few chases and maybe turn up at our Festivals I’d be very pleased.

Five O’Clock (FR)

4yo b g (0/32-)

Cokoriko – Rodika

We didn’t bring him out this morning because he has a sore heel. He will go staying hurdling but he’s a chaser for the future. He’s just an out-and-out chaser, but hopefully he’ll win a few hurdle races this year. He jumps very well.

Footpad (FR)

7yo b g (11111/F28-)

Creachadoir – Willamina

Simon Munir & Isaac Souede

He had overreaches and then his season was very mixed. He was beaten by Saint Calvados in Naas where he made a mistake though he probably wouldn’t have won anyway. I want to go a longer trip with him. I’ll probably start him off at two and a half miles, and I’m going to try and get him up to three miles, probably. As a hurdler we certainly would have thought he was going to be a staying hurdler. I’m keen to try the longer trips with him.

Foveros (FR)

4yo b g (1211)

Authorized – Fanurio’s Angel

Luke McMahon

He has won twice in Galway now and won twice over two and a half miles, but I think he is a two-miler. I want to aim him at the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. I think he’s fast. I think he’s got speed. He jumps well, so that’s where I’m going with him.

Getabird (IRE)

7yo b g (17P/12P-)

Getaway – Fern Bird

Mrs S Ricci

He prefers going right-handed I think, doesn’t he, usually around Punchestown and places like that. He has enough speed for two miles over fences but if I can find a race for him over two and a half miles, I will.

Great Field (FR)

8yo b g (1/FF4-)

Great Pretender – Eaton Lass

J.P. McManus

He has to brush up his jumping from last year. He schooled a few times here and he’s been good. I don’t think there’s much you can teach him, he just does his own thing when he gets out on the track.

So we wish Jodi McGarvey well with him this year. I’d imagine Jodi will ride him. That’s fine by me, they get on well together. He’ll go down the two mile route.

Jon Snow (FR)

4yo br g (Flat: 841-)

Le Havre – Saroushka

Mrs S Ricci

A new recruit from France, I think he will be able to operate at two miles, I’m looking forward for him to be in the top two-mile novice hurdles this season. He is doing everything right and jumps well. I think he’ll handle soft ground.

Kemboy (FR)

7yo b g (11U11-)

Voix Du Nord – Vitora

Supreme Horse Racing Club & Brett T Graham & K Sharp

Obviously there’s problems with his ownership at the moment. I imagine the King George is a target if we can get him there, but the Gold Cup is the ultimate aim for him anyhow.

Klassical Dream (FR)

5yo b g (1111-)

Dream Well – Klassical Way

Mrs Joanne Coleman

We are going to try and start him off in the Morgiana at Punchestown. If you look up Hurricane Fly or Faugheen’s path to Cheltenham that’s what we hope to do with this horse. I really want soft ground for him, plenty of rain. He’s able to win on good ground but I think he’s way better with proper National Hunt ground.

Lamarckise (FR)

4yo ch f (3/)

Martaline – Shannongold

Mrs Joanne Coleman

She’s owned by the Klassical Dream people. An absolutely lovely mare. Real strong, she’s a mare that has done some very, very good work here. We didn’t dream of running her last year on the ground, so I put her by for this season. I’m really looking forward to getting her out this year. It could be that these owners might have two nice horses.

Mr Adjudicator (GB)

5yo b g (NH: 28P1-71, Flat: 341)

Camacho - Attlonglast

David Bobbett

He won’t run this season, I think. He just wasn’t great after his last race in Galway and we are giving him a break.

Laurina (FR)

6yo b m (1111/114-)

Spanish Moon – Lamboghina

Sullivan Bldst Ltd

We have schooled her over fences and Paul [Townend] says she is a natural, so we are keen to go chasing with her.

Melon (GB)

7yo ch g (442F70-)

Medicean – Night Teeny

Mrs J Donnelly

He has schooled very well over fences and he goes novice chasing. It looks like he could be a better chaser than a hurdler. He’ll start off wherever we can get nice ground.

Micro Manage (IRE)

3yo ch g (Flat: 01-1)

Rip Van Winkle – Lillebonne

Merriebelle Farms Ltd

He won very well up the Curragh but then got a stress fracture and had a three-month break. I doubt we’ll even see him at Christmas. I’ll aim for Christmas but it will probably be after that.

My Sister Sarah (IRE)

5yo ch m (1121061-)

Martaline – Reste Ren Or

Barnane Stud

She looks a really nice prospect. She’s not the biggest mare in the world but she’ll stay hurdling and any trip doesn’t seem to be a problem to her.

Penhill (GB)

8yo b g (112/12/)

Mount Nelson – Serrenia

Tony Bloom

I minded him and minded him last season, and then he failed me coming to Cheltenham. So this year I’m taking a completely different approach with him. I’m just going to get him out early and hopefully he’ll stay sound, that’s my plan. If he runs well in his first race we’ll aim for Christmas and then probably Cheltenham after that.

Rayapour (FR)

3yo b g (Flat: -24122)

Mastercraftsman – Radiyya

McNeill Family

A new acquisition, and it’s good to have the McNeill family as owners here. Rayapour has been gelded, so that’s just put him back a little bit. He’s not here too long but is a fine horse and I imagine it will be after Christmas before he runs.

Real Steel (FR)

6yo b g (F11621-)

Loup Breton – Kalimina

Sullivan Bldst Ltd

He has an entry for Down Royal this weekend. It depends on how he works on Thursday morning. He’s fine at the moment. I think I might have him in the Ladbroke Trophy in Newbury as well. I’d like to get a run into him before that if we are going to go there.

Robin De Carlow (GB)

6yo br m (-11P21)

Robin Des Champs – La Reine De Riogh

Supreme Horse Racing Club & Brett T Graham

She keeps winning and keeps surprising me. She could be like Camellia De Cottes last year who we just started off and then, you know, she won six or seven novice chases, which I think was the most races of any novice chaser in Ireland and England last season.

Royal Rendezvous (IRE)

7yo b g (5111P-)

King’s Theatre - Novacella

Dr S.P. Fitzgerald

He could probably win at two or two and a half miles. He likes to get on with his job.

Saldier (FR)

5yo b g (1531/F-)

Soldier Hollow – Salve Evita

Mrs S Ricci

He got a bad fall in Naas last season and broke his nose. I wasn’t happy with him when we got him back going. We let him off for the summer and he seems a lot better this year. He seems back to himself, so we have to go down the Grade 1 hurdle route with him as well.

Sayo (GB)

5yo gr g (213/P41)

Dalakhani – Tiyi

Miss M.A. Masterson

He needs soft ground and he should be smart enough. I don’t mind going up in trip to two and a half miles, or even further. I think he’ll stay.

Sharjah (FR)

6yo b g (31311B-)

Doctor Dino – Saaryeh

Mrs S Ricci

He was brought down at an early stage in the Champion Hurdle last season and he probably has to go for that race again this season. His form is good. He’s matured nicely for me. He’s grown big and strong. We’ve a lot of novice chasers this season, so we’ll give him another year jumping hurdles.

Stormy Ireland (FR)

5yo b m (2222-6)

Motivator – Like A Storm

Sullivan Bldst Ltd

She’s not the biggest mare to go chasing and I wondered about her but, chatting to Ruby [Walsh] the other day, he said she has as much scope – if not more – than any of the big horses. He thought she would make a fantastic novice chaser but it will be up to her owner to decide.

Stratum (GB)

6yo b g (NH: 404-192. Flat 000-011)

Dansili – Lunar Phase

Tony Bloom

Won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. I have him in another flat race in Naas on Sunday but the one we are aiming at is the $2.5 million handicap in Saudi Arabia in February. He might get one run over hurdles at Christmas, but it would want to be something big, something to keep him fit.

Tornado Flyer (IRE)

6yo b g (131/1P4-)

Flemensfirth – Mucho Macabi

TFP Partnership

He’s another horse that could easily do the two-mile hurdles. He’s a Champion Bumper winner and he has the same pedigree, I think, as Hurricane Fly, so he’ll have a lot of natural speed there.

Un De Sceaux (FR)

11yo b g (11211/251-)

Denham Red – Hotesse De Sceaux

Edward O’Connell

He is amazing. I didn’t think we’d get this season out of him. Well, we haven’t yet, but at least he’s here. As Virginie [Bascop] says every morning, he still thinks he is four years of age. He just trains with such enthusiasm, he loves his job. He seems to be the same as he has been for the last two or three years, even though he’s the age he is.

I imagine he will be entered for the Tingle Creek and Hilly Way, any of those two-mile chases, or even two and a half mile chases. I really want soft ground for him. We didn’t get enough soft ground for him last year but he still ran well. And if we can get a proper winter this year, we have a great chance of winning a big race with him. I’d be absolutely delighted.