'It has been amazing' - magical Mullins reaches 4,000 winners at Fairyhouse

Willie Mullins reached another golden milestone in his remarkable training career on Saturday, when Bronn's victory at Fairyhouse gave Ireland's perennial champion over jumps his 4,000th career winner.

Among Irish-based trainers, only Dermot Weld has trained more winners than Mullins, having reached the same milestone when Sea Swift won at Naas in 2016.

Mullins' first winner as a trainer came when Silver Batchelor, which he rode, landed a bumper at Thurles in 1988 and over the 35 years which have followed, he has become the most powerful trainer over jumps in both Ireland and Britain from his Closutton base.

His seemingly endless list of big-race victories include a Grand National with Hedgehunter in 2005, two Cheltenham Gold Cups with Al Boum Photo (2019 & 2020) and four wins in the Champion Hurdle. Mullins, 66, also won a first Champion Chase with Energumene at last year's Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins surpassed his own record for most wins at a single festival when saddling ten winners at Cheltenham last March, including five of the seven winners on the final day. He also holds the record with 88 for most successes at the meeting. He has been crowned champion trainer in Ireland on 16 occasions.

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, and ridden by Daryl Jacob, Bronn gave Mullins his 4,000th winner when justifying 2-9 favouritism to land the 2m5½f beginners' chase at Fairyhouse.

"I'm absolutely amazed. I had absolutely no idea we were in that area," said Mullins, at Cheltenham to see Energumene suffer a shock defeat in the Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase. "It has been an amazing ride, with the owners, the staff, Patrick, the family and the jockeys. My wife, Jackie, has also been a huge part of the operation, keeping me focused.

"There are people who are still in the yard who started with us, people like David Casey, Ruby and our head man Dick Dowling. There are lots of people who have been there for years and years and I'm delighted for them. I'm especially delighted for our owners. We are lucky to have them. They are the most important part of our business.

"It's too big to take it all in but, for me, it's all about the people I've met along the way. It has been amazing."

Sir Michael Stoute: one of four trainers to have passed the 4,000-winner mark in BritainCredit: Edward Whitaker

Four trainers based in Britain have already reached 4,000 winners, with Mark Johnston holding the record with 5,050 winners in Britain. Richard Hannon snr (4,193), Martin Pipe (4,183) and Sir Michael Stoute (4,142) have also topped the same figure, while Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls are also closing in on 4,000 winners.

Ruby Walsh, who partnered more than his fair share of the 4,000 and is still heavily involved with the Mullins yard, said: "It's an amazing achievement but now it's roll on to 5,000."

Thrilled to be part of the story, Jacob added: "It was great to be a very small part of history. No words can really describe how good a man Willie is and what he has achieved. To be a small part of that history is fantastic. Bronn doesn't do a whole lot in front and was looking around an awful lot.

"I thought I had [runner-up] Grandero Bello beaten comfortably going to the last, but he started pulling up a bit from the back of the last with me. He's toughed it out well. There is more room for improvement with his jumping, he's getting better."

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