Life at the top of the sporting world tends to be fleeting. All the vital cogs that must work in unison to make that ascent to the apex tend to wear over time and when one fails to operate to its full potential, the load on the remainder inevitably leads to a collapse of the machine. The period on top depends on the chief engineer, the one overseeing operations, and in Willie Mullins, the Closutton team has a man who has steered his team to heights never previously achieved in National Hunt racing, and one who, at 68, remains as determined as ever to remain there.
So, what is it that continues to drive the perennial champion trainer in Ireland, who last season added the British title to a burgeoning list of achievements? “First and foremost, I’ve got to earn a living,” he explains, pragmatically. “And then there’s the maintenance on this place. “I was always very competitive and when you set out you want to be the best you can.
Okay, now we’re there, but this place doesn’t have private backers – it’s me, Jackie, and Patrick. That’s it, and the place has got to earn its keep. The maintenance on the gallop every year costs a huge amount.
You’ve got to win it to pay for the upkeep. “Of course, I still have the desire to train good horses, and I’m in the position that we have fabulous owners that anyone would love to have. When you’re training for those, you have access to good horses, you hope.
“People always assume we’ll have ten or 12 Grade On.