William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956)[1][2] is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a seventeen-time Irish National Hunt Champion trainer.[3] Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, having saddled more than 100 winners.
Mullins was born and raised around horses. His father, Paddy Mullins, was a horse trainer, and his mother, Maureen, was a successful breeder.[4] Mullins commenced racehorse training in 1988,[5] having previously worked as an assistant to his father and Jim Bolger. He is a former six-time amateur champion jockey in Ireland, winning the 1983 Aintree Fox Hunters' Chase on Atha Cliath and the 1996 Cheltenham Bumper on Wither Or Which.[6]
He is the trainer of the 2005 Grand National winner Hedgehunter and the 2011 and 2013 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly. Mullins also trained Vautour in the 2016 Ryanair Chase. He is also trainer of the six-time David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle champion, Quevega.[7] In the 2015 Cheltenham Festival Mullins trained eight winners, a joint record at the Cheltenham Festival which Gordon Elliott equalled in 2018.[8][9] He is the leading-most winning trainer at the Cheltenham Festival, becoming the first trainer to saddle 100 winners when Jasmin De Vaux won the 2024 Champion Bumper.[10] In 2022 he trained a new record of ten winners at the festival.
Mullins' longlasting relationship with Gigginstown House Stud came to an end on 28 September 2016.[11] Despite this he was the Irish Champion trainer in the 2016/17 season.[12]
Mullins is from Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, but is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, County Carlow, Ireland. He has a son, Patrick Mullins, who is currently an amateur jockey riding mainly in Ireland for his father and acting as assistant trainer to him. Mullins' wife, Jackie, was a successful amateur rider.[14]
With his wife, he was invited to ride in the King's procession at Royal Ascot 2023.[15]
Gallagher Novices' Hurdle - (7) Fiveforthree (2008), Mikael d'Haguenet (2009), Faugheen (2014), Yorkhill (2016), Sir Gerhard (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023), Ballyburn (2024)
Champion Bumper - (13) Wither or Which (1996), Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Relegate (2018), Ferny Hollow (2020), Sir Gerhard (2021), Facile Vega (2022), Jasmin De Vaux (2024)
County Handicap Hurdle - (7) Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024)
Golden Miller Novices' Chase - (4) Sir Des Champs (2012), Vautour (2015), Black Hercules (2016), Yorkhill (2017)
Irish Gold Cup - (13) Florida Pearl (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004), Alexander Banquet (2002), Rule Supreme (2005), Kempes (2011), Quel Esprit (2012), Sir Des Champs (2013), Bellshill (2019), Kemboy (2021), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024)
Punchestown Gold Cup - (6) Florida Pearl (2002), Sir Des Champs (2013), Boston Bob (2014), Bellshill (2018), Kemboy (2019), Allaho (2022)
Punchestown Champion Chase - (8) Micko's Dream (2001), Golden Silver (2010), Felix Yonger (2015), Un de Sceaux (2018, 2019), Chacun Pour Soi (2021), Energumene (2022, 2023)
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase - (11) Barker (2009), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Great Field (2017), Footpad (2018), Chacun Pour Soi (2019), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024)
Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle - (13) Davenport Milenium (2002), Nobody Told Me (2003), Sadlers Wings (2004), Glencove Marina (2007), Mikael d'Haguenet (2009), Un Atout (2013), Vautour (2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Bacardys (2017), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021), State Man (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023), Ballyburn (2024)
Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - (11) Holy Order (2001), Quatre Heures (2006), Diakali (2013), Abbyssial (2014), Petite Parisienne (2015), Apple's Jade (2016), Bapaume (2017), Saldier (2018), Vauban (2022), Lossiemouth (2023), Kargese (2024)
Channor Group Novice Hurdle - (9) The Midnight Club (2009), Marasonnien (2012), Killultagh Vic (2015), Bellshill (2016), Next Destination (2018), Galopin Des Champs (2021), The Nice Guy (2022), Gaelic Warrior (2023), Dancing City (2024)
Mares Champion Hurdle - (10) Tarla (2010), Glens Melody (2013), Annie Power (2014, 2015), Whiteout (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018, 2019), Stormy Ireland (2021), Echoes In Rain (2023), Lossiemouth (2024)
Royal Bond Novice Hurdle - (9) Alexander Banquet (1998), Hurricane Fly (2008), Zaidpour (2010), Sous les Cieux (2011), Nichols Canyon (2014), Long Dog (2015), Airlie Beach (2016), Quick Grabim (2018), Statuaire (2021)
Drinmore Novice Chase - (4) Alexander Banquet (1999), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Valseur Lido (2014), I Am Maximus (2023)
Racing Post Novice Chase - (9) Missed That (2005), Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Douvan (2015), Min (2016), Footpad (2017), Franco De Port (2020), Ferny Hollow (2021), Saint Roi (2022)
Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase - (6) Golden Silver (2009), Twinlight (2014), Douvan (2016), Chacun Pour Soi (2020), Blue Lord (2022), Dinoblue (2023)
December Festival Hurdle - (11) Hurricane Fly (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Sharjah (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), State Man (2022, 2023)
Fort Leney Novice Chase - (5) Back In Focus (2012), Don Poli (2014), Monkfish (2020), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2022), Grangeclare West (2023)
Faugheen Novice Chase - (8) Financial Reward (2008), Sir Des Champs (2011), The Paparrazi Kid (2013), Outlander (2015), Bellshill (2016), Faugheen (2019), Colreevy (2020), Gaelic Warrior (2023)
Slaney Novice Hurdle - (9) Homer Wells (2005), Mikael D'haguenet (2009), Gagewell Flyer (2011), Briar Hill (2014), Mckinley (2015), Bellshill (2016), Next Destination (2018), Champ Kiely (2023), Readin Tommy Wrong (2024)
Arkle Novice Chase - (10) Assessed (2002), Missed That (2006), Golden Silver (2009), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Footpad (2018), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024)
Dublin Chase - (7) Min (2018, 2019), Chaucun Pour Soi (2020, 2021, 2022), Gentleman De Mee (2023), El Fabiolo (2024)
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle - (9) Boston Bob (2012), Pont Alexandre (2013), Sure Reef (2014), Outlander (2015), A Toi Phil (2016), Let's Dance (2017), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021), Minella Cocooner (2022), Dancing City (2024)
Spring Juvenile Hurdle - (7) Mister Hight (2006) Petite Parisienne (2015), Footpad (2016), Mr Adjudicator (2018), Vauban (2022), Gala Marceau (2023), Kargese(2024)
Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle - (12) Alexander Banquet (1999), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Nichols Canyon (2015), Bleu Et Rouge (2016), Bacardys (2017), Klassical Dream (2019), Asterion Forlonge (2020), Appreciate It (2021), Sir Gerhard (2022), Il Etait Temps (2023), Ballyburn (2024)
Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase - (11) Florida Pearl (1998), J'y Vole (2008), Cooldine (2009), Citizen Vic (2010), Boston Bob (2013), Ballycasey (2014), Outlander (2016), Faugheen (2020), Monkfish (2021), Galopin Des Champs (2022), Fact To File (2024)
Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final - (8) Nobody Told Me (2003), Annie Power (2013), Adriana Des Mottes (2014), Augusta Kate (2017), Laurina (2018), Brandy Love (2022), Ashroe Diamond (2023), Jade De Grugy (2024)