Willie has been Champion Trainer in Ireland fifteen times and has won almost every major prize in Ireland as well as Britain. He has won a record 78 races at the Cheltenham Festival, which include multiple Champion Hurdles with the likes of Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and the wonderful mare Annie Power. He has won the Gold Cup twice with Al Boum Photo in 2019 & 2020 and in 2022 he completed the full set of Major Prizes when Energumene won the Champion Chase.. The set of Major Prizes in British in Ireland Racing, which include the Grand national he won in 2005 with Hedgehunter and the King George twice with Florida Pearl and Tornado Flyer.

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Willie also has the most terrific record with mares and has won nine of the runnings of the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham, five of the seven runnings of the Grade 2 Mares Novice including with Future Bloodstocks very own Limini and both the runnings of the Mares Chase with Colreevy & Elimay.

So it goes without saying that he was at the top of our list of trainers for some of our mares and after we purchased Stormy Ireland, we were delighted that Willie was keen to have her back and did such a great job with her.

 

We have thoroughly enjoyed having horses in Ireland and look forward to supporting Willie and the team for a long time into the future.