Just like that, it’s over. In what seems like a flash the jumps season has come and gone, with plenty of interesting narratives along the way. Spectators were welcomed back to the stands in full capacity for the first time in almost two years and you could almost immediately see the difference it made to racing post-coronavirus. The unpredictability of a big jumps race is almost unmatched, and it makes picking a winner on the best horse racing betting sites all the harder.
Of course, a good horse is nothing without its trainer, and while they sometimes don’t get the credit they deserve, it’s important to acknowledge the role they play in victories throughout the year. Read on, as we take a look at some of the best trainers throughout the last jumps season
Willie Mullins
One of the most decorated trainers of the modern era, Willie Mullins once again oozed class as he picked up several high-profile victories this season, with a dominant Dublin Festival setting him up nicely for more success at Prestbury Park. He won the top trainer award at Cheltenham with 10 winners — Energumene perhaps the pick of the bunch in the Champion Chase although his rematch with Shishkin failed to live up to expectations. For all his good work though, the Grand National flattered to deceive, with Class Conti his best finisher in a weaker Aintree team.
Gordon Elliott
This time last year, Gordon Elliott was in the middle of his ban after pictures emerged of the trainer sitting on a dead horse. With a reputation to try and repair, his County Meath-based stables were some of the strongest this season and while it will still take time for people to warm to the 44-year-old again, his suspension has made him all the hungrier to regain his place as one of the top trainers around. Having started the year with a good performance at Sligo with Fancy Foundations, he recorded big wins at Cheltenham with Delta Work winning the Cross Country Chase to pip legendary stablemate Tiger Roll to a memorable final victory.
Henry de Bromhead
He might not have reached the exhilarating heights of last year, but it was still a solid campaign from Henry de Bromhead, as he took a plethora of wins back to his County Waterford stables, including the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Rachael Blackmore was aboard A Plus Tard as the eight-year-old saw off the likes of Galvin and stablemate Minella Indo in the pick of the highlights when looking at De Bromhead’s wins. De Bromhead was another trainer who really appreciated the added element of a full crowd present for his Cheltenham wins, saying:
It definitely does (feel different this year), just the crowds looking here at the stand – it’s just incredible. This is what it’s all about. It was amazing to win it last year, but it’s triple amazing this year with all the people here.
Emmet Mullins
It’s simply impossible to not give a mention to the winner of the Grand National — Emmet Mullins. The nephew of Willie, not many horse racing tips would have predicted 50/1 outsider Noble Yeats to win the National, especially given the sheer talent on the race card ahead of the Aintree showpiece. However, the National’s unpredictability is why it’s one of the most-watched races on the British calendar and when 2021 winner Minella Times faltered early, and Delta Work struggled to make up ground, the seven-year-old capitalised and picked up a surprising victory masterminded by Mullins with Sam Waley-Cohen aboard in his final race.