CAN you have too many Willie Mullins winners? Perhaps we did at Cheltenham this year.

Some will say it takes away from a big Festival if so much quality is in so few hands. Willie trained 10 of the 28 winners and - but for the narrow, perhaps unlucky, defeat of Gaelic Warrior and the fall of Galopin Des Champs - he would have trained 12.

Add also his two well-fancied absentees from the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in Brandy Love and Allegorie De Vassy and Arkle favourite Ferny Hollow missing out.

Yet the 10 winners were for nine different owners and Galopin Des Champs would have been for a 10th, so there can be little that can be altered if owners choose to chase Festival glory by putting their purchase in the hands of the best trainer.

Even among the Irish there were slim pickings for big names. Noel Meade runners won £1,699. Jessica Harrington won £10,610.

Many had fancied Gordon Elliott to chase Willie for the trainers’ title but it was Henry de Bromhead in second place.

Mullins had 63 runners, Elliott 60 with 11 placing but 11 pulled up including many disappointments. That tells a story of fine tuning that should be praised rather than criticised.

Overall there was still a good spread of different ownerships at Festival 2022 to give hope to owner-breeders or those with modest budgets.

L’homme Presse’s owner Andy Edwards sources his own horses in France. Edwardstone and Third Wind were home-breds. Ahoy Senor and Love Envoi did not cost much compared to many who cost over £300,000 and failed to fire.

WITH British-trained winners of the Ultima, Pertemps, Grand Annual and Festival Plate, you would have to think that the dropping of the handicap marks for the British-trained runners did make a difference this year.

Even though those winners were all at double-figure odds - and few could have selected Global Citizen - the overall view was that British trainers have less to complain about this year.

Coole Cody and Third Wind were seemingly well-exposed heading into the Festival while even the Irish-trained Commander Of Fleet was unlikely to have been spotted at 50/1.

Whips crack away

A FEATURE of the Festival was that there were no high-profile whip bans.

That many have been a consequence of smaller fields, odds-on favourites winning by wide margins and no need for the whip, but it would also suggest that any tinkering – when the most important week of the year passed without any comment – would be unnecessary and only lead to more confusion.

It was also notable that more British-based riders broke the rules than the Irish riders.

The races won by Brazil and Commander Of Fleet had the smallest winning margin of the week. Delta Work, Third Wind and Billaway all won by a neck, and Elimay was another to score by under a length.

There is still the question of whether a winner should be allowed stand if the whip rules are broken.

Patrick Mullins received a four-day ban for his use of the whip in the Hunter Chase. So too did Kielan Woods (Global Citizen), while Coole Cody’s rider Adam Wedge got two days.

Ryanair Chase earns its place

IT’S not often you see Ryanair in a positive headline but, not for the first time, last Thursday’s contest sponsored by the airline provided one. In terms of quality, Allaho’s performance was bettered only by Constitution Hill and A Plus Tard.

There have been cries of dismay at the thought of a five-day Festival but, equally, those suggesting a drop back to three days would be eliminating much that is good.

Remember at the three-day Festival we had a similar race in the Cathcart which was also often a consolation prize for trainers who didn’t pitch a Grade 2 horse into the depth of the championship races.

The Ryanair now many of the best chasers on its roll of honour. Imperial Commander used it as a stepping stone to the Gold Cup, as did Don Cossack and now A Plus Tard has done the same.

Un De Sceaux tried the Champion Chase and was no match for Sprinter Sacre and then put up a memorable display in the Ryanair. It’s hard to suggest they were better chasing the placings in the other championship races.

Vautour’s Ryanair was one of the highlights of that Festival. He was only seven and had plenty of time for two cracks at the Gold Cup.

Allaho has found the three miles just too far. Let him dazzle where he is best.

AFTER years of Irish domination both the mares’ hurdle races were won by British trainers. Marie’s Rock took the Grade 1 and three of the first four in the novice were trained in Britain. It’s quite possible that Britain is now catching up and we’ll see a more equal spread of success.