Leading Trainer Award

[Statto]

The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award is decided on the number of winners trained over the four days. If there is a tie, it will go down to the number of second places. If there is still a tie, the number of third places will be taken into account and the award will be shared if there remains a tie after that.

Winners Of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award

2013
Willie Mullins IRE (5)
2012
Nicky Henderson (7)
2011
Willie Mullins IRE (4)
2010
Nicky Henderson (3)
2009
Paul Nicholls (5)
2008
Paul Nicholls (3)
2007
Paul Nicholls (4)
2006
Paul Nicholls (3)
2005
Howard Johnson (3)
2004
Paul Nicholls (4)
2003
Jonjo O'Neill (3)
2002
Martin Pipe (3)
2001
Cancelled
2000
Nicky Henderson (4)
1999
Paul Nicholls (3)
1998
Martin Pipe (4)
1997
Martin Pipe (4)
1996
Ferdy Murphy, Edward O'Grady IRE, Martin Pipe (2)
1995
David Nicholson (3)
1994
David Nicholson, Edward O'Grady IRE, Martin Pipe (2)
1993
Nicky Henderson, Martin Pipe, Nigel Twiston-Davies (2)
1992
Nicky Henderson, David Nicholson, Simon Sherwood (2)
1991
Martin Pipe (3)
1990
Nicky Henderson (2)
1989
Toby Balding, John Edwards, David Elsworth, Josh Gifford, Martin Pipe (2)
1988
Josh Gifford (3)
1987
Toby Balding, Nicky Henderson, Fred Winter (2)
1986
Nicky Henderson (3)
1985
Nicky Henderson (3)
1984
Michael Dickinson (3)
1983
Michael Dickinson (3)
1982
Michael Dickinson (2), Fulke Walwyn (2)
1981
Peter Easterby (3)
1980
John Edwards, Edward O'Grady IRE, Bob Turnell, Fred Winter (2)

Training feats at The Festival

Trainers who have been successful in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and Stan James Champion Hurdle in the same year

Year
Trainer
Gold Cup
Champion Hurdle
1930
Jack Anthony
Easter Hero
Brown Tony
1932
Basil Briscoe
Golden Miller
Insurance
1933
Basil Briscoe
Golden Miller
Insurance
1940
Owen Anthony
Roman Hackle
Solfold
1949
Vincent O'Brien IRE
Cottage Rake
Hatton's Grace
1950
Vincent O'Brien IRE
Cottage Rake
Hatton's Grace
1962
Fulke Walwyn
Mandarin
Anzio
1981
Peter Easterby
Little Owl
Sea Pigeon
1995
Kim Bailey
Master Oats
Alderbrook

No trainer has ever won the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stan James Champion Hurdle and BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase in the same season or the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stan James Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in the same season. Jim Dreaper won the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in 1975 with Ten Up, Lough Inagh and Brown Lad respectively, while Paul Nicholls emulated the feat in 2009 with Kauto Star (Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup), Master Minded (BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Big Buck's (Ladbrokes World Hurdle).

[Old Vic]

Leading Trainer 2014 Cheltenham Festival Odds as at 14/02/2014 NRNB
Willie Mullins	2/5	2/5	4/9	4/9
Nicky Henderson	4/1	4/1	4/1	4/1
Paul Nicholls	9/2	4/1	9/2	9/2
David Pipe	33/1	25/1	40/1	25/1
Jonjo O'Neill	50/1	40/1	40/1	50/1

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Mullins is too short but will probably win 2 or 3 on Tuesday so worth holding fire until Wednesday if you are going to play in this.

[Statto]

I think Henderson might be overpriced - sheer weight of numbers makes Mullins favourite but Henderson still has chances in most of the Graded races and to my surprise has historically had a slight edge in Handicaps particularly chases.