Leading trainers at The Festival - Maher targets repeat success with Big Shu

Henderson leading the way at The Festival

 Trainer Nicky Henderson became the first trainer to reach 50 winners at The Festival in 2013 through Bobs Worth's success in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. The master of Seven Barrows also sent out Sprinter Sacre, Rajdhani Express and Simonsig to Festival glory last year although his four victories wasn't enough to secure a 10th The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award as Willie Mullins saddled five winners over the four days.

Paul Nicholls has been The Irish Independent leading trainer at The Festival six times and is fourth on the all-time list with 33 successes, despite only saddling his first winner at the meeting in 1999.

 Ireland's most successful current trainer at The Festival is Willie Mullins, who has 29 winners to his name since 1995, including 12 victories at the last three Festivals.

The most successful trainers of all-time at The Festival

 

Wins	Trainer	Wins	Trainer
50	Nicky Henderson (1985-)	17	David Nicholson (1986-1999)
40	Fulke Walwyn (1946-86)	16	Philip Hobbs (1990-)
34	Martin Pipe (1981-2006)	15	Harry Brown (1920-1938)
33	Paul Nicholls (1999-)	15	Tom Coulthwaite (1911-1936)
29	Willie Mullins IRE (1995-)	15	Tom Rimell (1927-1949)
28	Fred Winter (1970-1988)	15	Nigel Twiston-Davies (1992-)
27	Fred Rimell (1948-1981)	14	Dan Moore IRE (1953-1979)
26	Tom Dreaper IRE (1946-1971)	13	Jack Anthony (1929-1950)
23	Vincent O'Brien IRE (1948-1959)	13	Peter Easterby (1967-1986)
23	Bob Turnell (1956-1980)	13	Tim Forster (1963-1998)
22	Ivor Anthony (1930-1952)	13	Alan King (2004-)
22	Jonjo O'Neill (1991)	12	John Edwards (1969-1994)
19	George Beeby (1930-1959)	12	Tom Jones (1965-1978)
18	Edward O'Grady IRE (1974-)

Current trainers in bold (NB trainers of some of the earliest winners were not recorded)

The most successful current trainers at The Festival

Wins	Trainer	Wins	Trainer
50	Nicky Henderson	8	David Pipe
33	Paul Nicholls	7	Jessica Harrington IRE
29	Willie Mullins IRE	7	Mouse Morris IRE
22	Jonjo O'Neill	6	Francois Doumen FR
18	Edward O'Grady IRE	6	Dessie Hughes IRE
16	Philip Hobbs	6	Donald McCain
15	Nigel Twiston-Davies	6	Oliver Sherwood
13	Alan King	6	Venetia Williams
10	Ferdy Murphy FR	5	Enda Bolger IRE
9	David Elsworth	5	Aidan O'Brien IRE
8	Arthur Moore IRE

 

The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award

The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award is decided on the number of winners trained over the four days. If there is a tie, it will go down to the number of second places. If there is still a tie, the number of third places will be taken into account and the award will be shared if there remains a tie after that.

Winners Of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award

2013	Willie Mullins IRE (5)
2012	Nicky Henderson (7)
2011	Willie Mullins IRE (4)
2010	Nicky Henderson (3)
2009	Paul Nicholls (5)
2008	Paul Nicholls (3)
2007	Paul Nicholls (4)
2006	Paul Nicholls (3)
2005	Howard Johnson (3)
2004	Paul Nicholls (4)
2003	Jonjo O'Neill (3)
2002	Martin Pipe (3)
2001	Cancelled
2000	Nicky Henderson (4)
1999	Paul Nicholls (3)
1998	Martin Pipe (4)
1997	Martin Pipe (4)
1996	Ferdy Murphy, Edward O'Grady IRE, Martin Pipe (2)
1995	David Nicholson (3)
1994	David Nicholson, Edward O'Grady IRE, Martin Pipe (2)
1993	Nicky Henderson, Martin Pipe, Nigel Twiston-Davies (2)
1992	Nicky Henderson, David Nicholson, Simon Sherwood (2)
1991	Martin Pipe (3)
1990	Nicky Henderson (2)
1989	Toby Balding, John Edwards, David Elsworth, Josh Gifford, Martin Pipe (2)
1988	Josh Gifford (3)
1987	Toby Balding, Nicky Henderson, Fred Winter (2)
1986	Nicky Henderson (3)
1985	Nicky Henderson (3)
1984	Michael Dickinson (3)
1983	Michael Dickinson (3)
1982	Michael Dickinson (2), Fulke Walwyn (2)
1981	Peter Easterby (3)
1980	John Edwards, Edward O'Grady IRE, Bob Turnell, Fred Winter (2)

Training feats at The Festival

Trainers who have been successful in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and Stan James Champion Hurdle in the same year

Year	Trainer	Gold Cup	Champion Hurdle
1930	Jack Anthony	Easter Hero	Brown Tony
1932	Basil Briscoe	Golden Miller	Insurance
1933	Basil Briscoe	Golden Miller	Insurance
1940	Owen Anthony	Roman Hackle	Solfold
1949	Vincent O'Brien IRE	Cottage Rake	Hatton's Grace
1950	Vincent O'Brien IRE	Cottage Rake	Hatton's Grace
1962	Fulke Walwyn	Mandarin	Anzio
1981	Peter Easterby	Little Owl	Sea Pigeon
1995	Kim Bailey	Master Oats	Alderbrook

No trainer has ever won the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stan James Champion Hurdle and BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase in the same season or the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stan James Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in the same season. Jim Dreaper won the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in 1975 with Ten Up, Lough Inagh and Brown Lad respectively, while Paul Nicholls emulated the feat in 2009 with Kauto Star (Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup), Master Minded (BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Big Buck's (Ladbrokes World Hurdle). 

  

Most successful trainers in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup

5	Tom Dreaper IRE (1946 Prince Regent, 1964, 1965 and 1966 Arkle, 1968 Fort Leney)
4	Basil Briscoe (1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935 Golden Miller)
	Paul Nicholls (1999 See More Business, 2007 and 2009 Kauto Star, 2008 Denman)
	Vincent O'Brien IRE (1948, 1949 and 1950 Cottage Rake, 1953 Knock Hard)
	Fulke Walwyn (1952 Mont Tremblant, 1962 Mandarin, 1963 Mill House, 1973 The Dikler)
3	Owen Anthony (1927 Thrown In, 1936 Golden Miller, 1940 Roman Hackle)
	Henrietta Knight (2002, 2003 and 2004 Best Mate)
2	Ivor Anthony (1938 Morse Code, 1941 Poet Prince)
	Jack Anthony (1929 and 1930 Easter Hero)
	George Beeby (1939 Brendan's Cottage, 1951 Silver Fame)
	Noel Chance (1997 Mr Mulligan, 2000 Looks Like Trouble)
	Michael Dickinson (1982 Silver Buck, 1983 Bregawn)
	Peter Easterby (1979 Alverton, 1981 Little Owl)
	Nicky Henderson (2011 Long Run, 2013 Bobs Worth)
	Dan Moore IRE (1970 and 1971 L'Escargot)

Most successful trainers in the Stan James Champion Hurdle

5	Peter Easterby (1967 Saucy Kit, 1976 and 1977 Night Nurse, 1980 and 1981 Sea Pigeon)
	Nicky Henderson (1985, 1986 and 1987 See You Then, 2009 Punjabi, 2010 Binocular)
4	Vic Smyth (1941 Seneca, 1942 Forestation, 1947 and 1948 National Spirit)
	Fred Winter (1971 and 1972 Bula, 1974 Lanzarote, 1988 Celtic Shot)
3	Colin Davies (1968, 1969 and 1970 Persian War)
	Aidan O'Brien IRE (1998, 1999 and 2000 Istabraq)
	Ryan Price (1955 Clair Soleil, 1959 Fare Time, 1961 Eborneezer)
	Willie Stephenson (1952, 1953 and 1954 Sir Ken)

Most successful trainers in the BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase

6	Tom Dreaper IRE (1960 and 1961 Fortria, 1964 Ben Stack, 1966 Flyingbolt, 1969 Muir, 1970 Straight Fort)
4	Paul Nicholls (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 and 2009 Master Minded)
3	Michael Dickinson (1982 Rathgorman, 1983 and 1984 Badsworth Boy)
	Nicky Henderson (1992 Remittance Man, 2012 Finian's Rainbow, 2013 Sprinter Scare)

Most successful trainers in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle

4	Paul Nicholls (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Big Buck's)
3	Howard Johnson (2005, 2007 & 2008 Inglis Drever)
	Fulke Walwyn (1982 & 1986 Crimson Embers, 1985 Rose Ravine)
2	Francois Doumen FR (2002 & 2003 Baracouda)
	Nicky Henderson (1989 Rustle, 2000 Bacchanal)
	John Mulhern IRE (1987 and 1988 Galmoy)
	Edward O'Grady IRE (1978 Flame Gun, 1980 Mountrivers)
	Martin Pipe (1994 Balasani, 1996 Cyborgo)

Maher targets repeat success with Big Shu

Irish handler Peter Maher enjoyed the biggest success of his training career when Big Shu captured the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at last year's Festival.

"It took a while to sink it but it feels great to be a Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer," said Maher. "I knew Big Shu was a good horse and you can't beat a good horse - class always wins doesn't it?"

Maher, who is based at Ashfield Stud in Co Kildare, was saddling his first runner at The Festival, but it was not the first time his family have been associated with a Festival winner.

"My grandfather trained plenty of winners and was a big bloodstock man in the 50s, 60s and 70s. He stood stallions and they were responsible for the likes of L'Escargot, who obviously won two Gold Cups and a Grand National.

"The stallions also sired Mr Mulligan and Forgive 'N Forget, who both won the Gold Cup, Maid Of Money, Bankers Benefit and Barney Burnett. Team Spirit was another one and there were five Grand National winners in total, so I used to listen to all the stories when I was growing up."

Big Shu started his career with Mark McNiff, but had five starts in bumpers without success between March, 2009 and December, 2010. The nine-year-old made his debut for Maher in a point-to-point in October, 2011, and continued in that sphere and in hunter chases.

Despite these humble beginnings, he sprung to prominence at the 2012 Punchestown Festival when annexing the Ladies Cup over the cross-country course and then warmed up for Cheltenham with a second to Arabella Boy over the same course and distance in February, 2013.

Big Shu was sent off a 14/1 chance at The Festival and travelled smoothly throughout, before staying on strongly up the hill under Barry Cash to beat fellow Irish raider Shakervilz by four lengths.

"Big Shu did it well on the day. He has plenty of stamina and staying is the name of the game," reflected Mayer. "Unusually, they went a good gallop and it might not have been the same result had there been a crawl."

Following his victory at Cheltenham, Big Shu captured the La Touche Cup at the Punchestown Festival and is on course to defend his title in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase following a pleasing second on his reappearance at Punchestown on February 2. He is also entered in the Crabbie's Grand National, in which he has been allotted 10st 8lb.

Maher continued: "It doesn't matter what you do with him at home, he always improves for a run. I am leaning towards Cheltenham with him, but he could do the Grand National as well.

"Silver Birch ran down the field at Cheltenham and then won the Grand National so the double is doable. Big Shu didn't run over Christmas and, if he went to Aintree, it would only be his third run of the season.

"I suppose we are the one to beat going back to Cheltenham this year, but favourites get turned over in Cheltenham. I got my winner last year and it was foreign territory for me, but this year I know what I'm doing and want to enjoy it. I will come over with a couple of friends, have a nice meal and watch the racing, and whatever happens, happens."

Please click here for full media pack containing current & past trainers' winning records at The Festival plus records of selected winning owners