Andy Holding explains why the Willie Mullins hold on the top trainer title at Cheltenham might be tested by a Gordon Elliott team looking strong in all departments.
Willie Mullins has dominated the Cheltenham Top Trainer title for the past decade and he looks to have another strong team in his bid to retain the crown this season.
However, given what happened to Gordon Elliott last season, the Cullentra House handler will be keener than ever to make amends and remind everyone what he does best. With his 50-strong team looking one of the best raiding parties he's ever brought over, he easily represents the value (best price 5/2) of the top pair in betting for this market.
Granted, Willie Mullins has the likes of Dysart Dynamo, Galopin Des Champs, Vauban, Sir Gerhard (the most backed on oddschecker last week) and Facile Vega as perceived bankers for many, but they've still got to go out there and get the job done and it's not as if Elliott doesn't have strong members of his team in all departments.
The likes of Ginto, Three Stripe Life and Mighty Potter are all genuine Grade 1 performers with more than a squeak in their respective races and he also has a strong hand in the Triumph with both Pied Piper and Fil D'Or, who are bang there with every chance on all known form.
Add to the mix, standing dish Tiger Roll in the Cross Country, Death Duty and Floueur in the Ultima, Queens Brook, Teahupoo, The Tide Turns, Run Wild Fred, Buddy Rich, Saint Felicien, American Mike, Sire Du Berlais, Conflated, Party Central, Hollow Games and Frontal Assault, who are all single figure prices for their respective races and it's easy to see a closer match between the two big heavyweights in the training ranks than the current odds might suggest.
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