Cheltenham Festival 2014: Most successful trainers – Henderson leading the way

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.

GUIDE TO THE FESTIVAL AT CHELTENHAM 2014 – CLICK HERE

The most successful trainers of all-time at The Festival

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

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 
33 Paul Nicholls 
29 Willie Mullins IRE 
22 Jonjo O’Neill 
18 Edward O’Grady IRE 
16 Philip Hobbs 
15 Nigel Twiston-Davies  

13 Alan King 
10 Ferdy Murphy FR 
9 David Elsworth 
8 Arthur Moore IRE

 

8 David Pipe
7 Jessica Harrington IRE
7 Mouse Morris IRE
6 Francois Doumen FR
6 Dessie Hughes IRE
6 Donald McCain
6 Oliver Sherwood 

6 Venetia Williams
5 Enda Bolger IRE
5 Aidan O’Brien 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)

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

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).

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.

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

 Tom Dreaper IRE (1960 and 1961 Fortria, 1964 Ben Stack, 1966 Flyingbolt, 1969 Muir, 1970 Straight Fort)
 Paul Nicholls (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 and 2009 Master Minded)
 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)

GUIDE TO THE FESTIVAL AT CHELTENHAM 2014 – CLICK HERE

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