WILLIE Mullins and Aidan O’Brien are among six nominees for the RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year Award. The winner will be announced this evening (Saturday) during the RTÉ Sport Awards (8.05pm, RTE Two).

Both Aidan and Willie are the current champion trainers in both Ireland and Britain, on the flat and over jumps respectively.

Aidan became the outright most successful trainer in the history of the Breeders’ Cup, achieving his 21st victory with Gstaad in the Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Bob Baffert caught up with Aidan the next day with a double! Willie, of course, had a Breeders’ Cup winner himself, but is nominated here primarily for his achievements at Cheltenham (10 winners) and at Aintree (Grand National 1-2-3). Bob Baffert doesn’t seem to have had a runner, mind.

The two top trainers are up against Kerry football boss Jack O’Connor, Tipperary hurling coach Liam Cahill, Galway camogie chief Cathal Murray and Stephen Bradley, manager of the all-conquering Shamrock Rovers. We fully expect Willie to get them all in a syndicate before the night is out.