A fear of failure will be the driving force behind Willie Mullins’ bid for further honours at what he expects to be “the best Festival ever” at Cheltenham this year.
Failure is not a word anyone would associate with the master of Closutton, whose tally of 78 winners at the showpiece meeting makes him the most successful trainer in Festival history.
But despite being responsible for around a dozen favourites this time around, Mullins revealed “dread” is his overwhelming emotion during an illuminating chat in his living room in late February.
