Last Updated on January 2, 2026
For much of the 20th century, British-trained runners were the force to beat in National Hunt racing. Ireland had its stars — Arkle, Dawn Run, and the odd Cheltenham Festival winner — but British stables ruled the major meetings more often than not. Over the past 30 years, though, the tide has turned. Slowly at first, then all at once.
Today, Ireland isn’t just competitive — it’s dominant. From Cheltenham to Aintree, Punchestown to Fairyhouse, Irish trainers, jockeys, and owners have rewritten the script of jumps racing.
The Turning Point: From Outsiders to Favourites
The shift began in the late 1990s. At that time, Ireland still sent talented horses to Cheltenham and Aintree, but wins were hard-earned and often considered upsets. The training operations were generally smaller, the prize money lower, and the number of elite horses more limited.
That began to change thanks to several key developments. Chief among them was the rise of Willie Mullins, a former amateur jockey turned trainer. His first Cheltenham winner came in 1995 with Tourist Attraction in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. It was a breakthrough moment, but few could have imagined that Mullins would go on to reshape the landscape of jumps racing entirely.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, his Closutton yard in County Carlow grew into a global powerhouse. By 2024, Mullins had trained over 100 Cheltenham Festival winners, including superstars like Faugheen, Vautour, Annie Power, and Galopin Des Champs. His dominance at Cheltenham has made him the most successful trainer in the Festival’s history — and he shows no signs of slowing down.
But the Mullins success story is just part of the broader Irish surge. Around the same time, Gordon Elliott began to make his mark, eventually winning the Grand National in 2007 with Silver Birch — at just 29 years old. Later came Henry de Bromhead, who steadily built a reputation before pulling off a historic Cheltenham treble in 2021: winning the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, and Gold Cup — all with different horses.
The Role of Owners and Point-to-Points
Much of the Irish success has been underpinned by investment — both financial and structural.
Owners like Michael O’Leary (Gigginstown House Stud), JP McManus, and Rich Ricci have poured money into the sport, buying talented young horses from the Irish point-to-point scene and placing them with the top yards. Gigginstown, in particular, revolutionised how horses were scouted, bought, and campaigned. Their maroon and white silks became a familiar sight in every big staying chase and novice hurdle.
Meanwhile, the Irish point-to-point circuit became a nursery for elite jumping talent. Young horses were produced and showcased on grass tracks across the country, then sold for six-figure sums to top owners and trainers. Horses like Shishkin, Envoi Allen, and Bravemansgame all started their careers between the flags.
The result? A steady pipeline of well-schooled, hardy, and talented horses, ready to compete — and win — at the very highest level.
Cheltenham Festival: A New Era
Nowhere has Irish dominance been more visible than at the Cheltenham Festival. For decades, the meeting was a battleground — a four-day showcase of rivalry between Britain and Ireland. But since 2010, that rivalry has become increasingly one-sided.
In 1998, British trainers won 18 of the 20 races. In 2011, the score was much closer: 13 wins for Britain, 14 for Ireland. By 2017, the Irish won 19 races to Britain’s 9 — and in 2021, the most lopsided Festival yet, Irish-trained horses claimed 23 of the 28 races.
The Prestbury Cup, awarded to the country with the most wins each year, has been won by Ireland in six of the last seven Festivals. It’s no longer a competition — it’s a rout.
And the wins haven’t just come in handicaps or lesser races. Irish trainers now dominate the Championship contests:
- Champion Hurdle: Honeysuckle (De Bromhead), State Man (Mullins)
- Gold Cup: Galopin Des Champs, Minella Indo, Don Cossack
- Champion Chase: Energumene, Put The Kettle On
- Stayers’ Hurdle: Flooring Porter, Monkfish
Britain still produces the occasional star — Constitution Hill being the best of recent years — but the strength in depth lies with the Irish.
Training Powerhouses and Strength in Depth
It’s impossible to overstate the dominance of Willie Mullins. His operation at Closutton is so large and well-resourced that he often runs multiple horses in the same Grade 1 — and wins with the least fancied of them.
But Irish success runs deeper. Gordon Elliott, based in County Meath, runs a huge yard with a conveyor belt of quality young stock. He trained Tiger Roll to two Grand National wins (2018, 2019), a modern-day legend whose popularity rivalled that of Red Rum.
Henry de Bromhead, more selective in his approach, has trained Festival icons like Honeysuckle, Minella Indo, and A Plus Tard. He has a reputation for producing horses that peak at just the right time.
And then there’s the supporting cast: Joseph O’Brien, Gavin Cromwell, Noel Meade, Mouse Morris, Barry Connell — all capable of winning big races and producing top-level talent. The depth of competition in Ireland has raised standards across the board.
The British Response: Struggling for Answers
The British reaction has been a mix of alarm and soul-searching. Concerns have been raised about poor prize money, lack of long-term owner investment, and the outflow of talent — both human and equine — to Ireland.
Some prominent British owners now send their horses across the Irish Sea for training. Even major operations like Cheveley Park Stud and Robcour have Irish-trained jumps horses despite being based in Britain.
British trainers like Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson continue to enjoy success but are finding it harder to compete at the Festival. Some have started skipping Cheltenham entirely, choosing Aintree or Sandown instead, citing the difficulty of winning against the Irish battalions.
What Comes Next?
Irish dominance in National Hunt racing shows no signs of slowing. The systems in place — prize money, point-to-points, owner backing, and elite training centres — are producing quality year after year.
British racing, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle. Talk of reform continues — better funding models, support for grassroots racing, and race programming that helps develop horses gradually. But until real investment is made, the Irish are likely to stay well in front.
