Apart from betting on the races themselves, there are many other options offered by the Cheltenham Festival and one of these that can provide a special interest for punters is betting on the top trainer, that is the trainer whose horses score the most wins regardless of how prestigious is the race.

This year the odds on favourite to win the Top Trainer is Paul Nichols and although he is looking very hard to beat, given the much longer odds of some of the less popular trainers they are certainly worth considering. The second favourite is Nicky Henderson and in third place is Willie Mullins.

Willie Mullins is an Irish trainer and was born in Co Carlow, Ireland in 1956. He was born into a horse racing family and started in the business by working for his father Paddy Mullins. Willie became a jockey and as an amateur was awarded the Irish Champion Amateur Jockey on three occasions. In 1996 he won the Cheltenham Bumper.

Currently he is considered to be the best trainer in Ireland and is certainly one of the country’s mist successful jump trainers. His career as a trainer began in 1988 and as a trainer his success include Hedgehunter which won the Grand National in 2005 Quevega which won the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2009 and Mikael d’Haguenet which won the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in the same year.

Possibly his most famous horse is Florida Pearl. This horse was owned by Mrs Violet O’Leary. It won twice at the Cheltenham Festival in both the King George VI Chase and the Champion Bumper. It also won the King George VI Chase and was a four times winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup in Ireland.

Ruby Walsh is his stable jockey as well as working for Paul Nichols. Willie Mullins trains around fifty horses at a time and his emphasis is on festivals such as the Cheltenham. This year anticipate some great results from them.

For all of the latest odds and Cheltenham Betting markets visit Betfair.com.