Mullins ends epic campaign with 212 winners A four-timer on the final day of the Punchestown Festival moved Willie Mullins onto 212 winners for the season as he was officially crowned Irish champion jumps trainer for the 12th time. Incredibly, both Mullins and his main rival Gordon Elliott trained over 200 winners in the campaign with Elliott two short on 210. This was the first time in Irish jumps history that the 200 winner mark had been breached. Mullins started the week €521,413 behind Elliott but he ended up going into the final day with an unassailable lead after an epic week in Co Kildare. Trebles on Tuesday and Thursday and a staggering six-timer on Wednesday saw him heading into the penultimate evening’s action with a lead of €424,148. The Closutton maestro sealed the championship after the Punchestown Champion Hurdle as he saddled the second, third and fourth home, with Elliott’s diminishing hopes of claiming a first title ending when Samcro fell at the third-last. Mullins then enjoyed a Grade One double on the final day with Benie Des Dieux and Saldier, finishing on €5,968,275 to the €5,158,751 of Elliott, winning by €809,524 after a remarkable 18 winners during the week (nine at Grade One level). He described himself as “humbled” to equal Tom Dreaper, trainer of the mighty Arkle, in winning a dozen titles. He said: “I’m humbled to be alongside him in statistics. He was sort of God when we were growing up. I’m delighted for my whole team, because they take huge pride in it. “We’ve built up a good team of people — Patrick (Mullins), David Casey and Ruby (Walsh) and my wife Jackie. It’s just an awesome team. “I’m enjoying training as much as ever and trying to find new horses and identify them and having nice winners. It’s not getting any easier — Gordon is making sure of that!” Davy Russell claimed his third Irish jump jockeys’ championship, adding to the back-to-back titles he secured in 2011/12 and 2012/13. Ruby Walsh had been the leading rider in each of the last four seasons, but as he missed much of the campaign through injury, Russell was able to seize the advantage. Russell also paid tribute to his late mother, Phyllis. He said: “We’d a tough year in some ways and we had a brilliant year in other ways, but it’ll never make up for Mam. She was a wonderful woman and she’d be the proudest woman in Punchestown were she here.” Donal McInerney was named champion conditional rider, Patrick Mullins regained the amateurs’ title and Lisa O'Neill was champion lady rider. In terms of the Punchestown Festival, Mullins was the top trainer while Paul Townend was leading jockey with five winners.
