Mullins Festival Champions Return to Work Ahead of New Jumps Season

Three of the biggest names from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival are back in light work as Willie Mullins begins preparing his leading horses for the new National Hunt season.

Champion Hurdle winner Lossiemouth, Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Gaelic Warrior and Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Il Etait Temps have all returned from their summer breaks in good condition.

Grand National winner I Am Maximus is also back with the Mullins team after spending the summer at JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud.

There are no firm starting races or confirmed Cheltenham Festival targets at this stage. However, the update is an encouraging first step for four horses expected to play major roles during the coming campaign.

Mullins Stars Begin Their Early Work

Mullins reported that his winter horses have been back for several weeks and are completing their early preparation.

Lossiemouth, Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps spent the summer at Mullins’ own farm. They are currently walking and trotting, with the more serious work expected to begin when they start cantering in September.

The trainer described the three horses as being in very good order after their breaks.

I Am Maximus spent his summer at Martinstown before returning to Closutton. Mullins was equally pleased with his condition.

It is far too early for firm racing plans. The leading jumps horses will usually complete several weeks of steady work before trainers begin choosing their first races.

Even so, getting them back healthy is an important first part of the process.

Lossiemouth Heads the Champion Hurdle Market

Lossiemouth will be attempting to defend her Champion Hurdle crown if Mullins decides to return to Cheltenham with her in March.

The mare produced one of the strongest performances of the 2026 Festival when she beat her Champion Hurdle rivals by six and a half lengths.

That victory continued her exceptional Cheltenham record. She has now won at four consecutive Festivals, having previously landed the Triumph Hurdle and two Mares’ Hurdles.

Her record at the course is one reason bookmakers have made her the early favourite for the 2027 Champion Hurdle. She is currently around 5/2, although prices will change as the season develops.

The opposition is far from settled. Old Park Star, Mydaddypaddy, King Rasko Grey and State Man are among those in the early betting, while several novice hurdlers could move into the division.

Mullins has not said where Lossiemouth will begin her season. Her first major test may not come until the Christmas or Dublin Racing Festival meetings.

Gaelic Warrior Preparing for Gold Cup Defence

Gaelic Warrior produced the performance of his career when winning the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Paul Townend moved him into the race approaching the final two fences before the chaser pulled eight lengths clear of Jango Baie. Inothewayurthinkin, winner of the race in 2025, finished third.

The victory gave Gaelic Warrior his second Cheltenham Festival success after his Arkle win in 2024.

He now has the chance to become a dual Gold Cup winner, something achieved by only a select group of horses.

Gaelic Warrior is around 2/1 in the early market for the 2027 Gold Cup. Jango Baie is among his main rivals, while Final Demand, Lulamba, Fact To File and Inothewayurthinkin also feature in the betting.

The early price shows how highly bookmakers rate the defending champion, but plenty can change before March.

Gaelic Warrior’s return to work is good news for the division. The more useful update will arrive when Mullins confirms whether he will follow a familiar route through races such as the John Durkan, King George or Irish Gold Cup.

Il Etait Temps Back After Champion Chase Success

Il Etait Temps completed Mullins’ clean sweep of the three main championship races at Cheltenham by winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The grey moved through the race strongly before coming home ten lengths ahead of Libberty Hunter.

It was a major performance from a horse who had already built an excellent Grade One record in Britain and Ireland.

Il Etait Temps is now the early favourite to retain his Champion Chase title. Possible rivals include several other Mullins horses, with Kopek Des Bordes, Kargese and Majborough all appearing in the betting.

Marine Nationale could also return to the two-mile championship division for Barry Connell.

Mullins will have several choices to make if his leading two-mile chasers remain fit. Some may be kept apart during the season before their Cheltenham plans become clearer.

I Am Maximus Also Returns

Although his main target is likely to be the Grand National, the return of I Am Maximus adds further strength to the Mullins team.

The JP McManus-owned chaser has won the last two runnings of the race and could equal Red Rum’s record of three Grand National victories if he succeeds again in 2027.

He is already the ante-post favourite for Aintree, although his route back to the National has not been announced.

His preparation may be handled carefully, with the whole season built around arriving at Aintree in the right condition.

Can Mullins Retain Cheltenham’s Three Championship Races?

Winning the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at one Festival was a huge result for Mullins, Townend and the Closutton team.

Repeating it would be even harder.

Lossiemouth, Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps must stay healthy, retain their form and deal with new rivals emerging throughout the winter.

For now, there are no race plans and no promises about Cheltenham.

But all three defending champions are back in work and reported to be in good condition. In August, that is about as positive an update as connections could hope to provide.