It’s a Triumph Hurdle winner fans are sure that Willie Mullins will be the winner of the Triumph Hurdle after the winning trainer landed an ‘impressive’ French rookie
In the ever-competitive world of National Hunt racing, few names evoke as much dominance and excitement as Willie Mullins. The Irish training maestro, fresh off a record-breaking season that saw him secure yet another British jumps trainers’ championship, has once again sent ripples through the betting markets with his latest acquisition. Just days ago, billionaire owner J.P. McManus splashed out on Proactif, a promising French juvenile described by scouts as an “impressive” rookie with boundless potential. Punters wasted no time in crowning the four-year-old as the next big thing, with social media ablaze and ante-post odds tightening faster than a Cheltenham finish.
Proactif’s arrival at Mullins’ Closutton yard couldn’t have come at a more tantalizing time. With the 2026 JCB Triumph Hurdle now firmly on the horizon—set for the final day of next year’s Cheltenham Festival—the horse has rocketed into favoritism at 14-1, edging ahead of stablemate Narciso Has and Henderson’s Manlaga in the early markets. Fans, ever quick to spot a Mullins masterstroke, flooded racing forums and X (formerly Twitter) with declarations of destiny. “There’s the Triumph Hurdle winner,” proclaimed one enthusiast, echoing a sentiment that has become a refrain for anyone tracking the Co. Carlow trainer’s relentless pursuit of juvenile glory. Another added, “Mullins + French import = Cheltenham magic. Proactif looks the real deal—scope, speed, and that effortless jumping action on debut.”
What makes Proactif such a compelling prospect? The gelding, by the influential sire Walk In The Park out of a stakes-winning mare, burst onto the scene at Auteuil in the spring, finishing a battling second in a Listed juvenile hurdle behind the highly regarded Nietzsche Has. That performance wasn’t just gritty; it was electric. Clocking a sharp time on soft ground, Proactif demonstrated the fluency over obstacles that has become a hallmark of Mullins’ Triumph winners. Observers noted his quick acceleration off the final flight, a trait reminiscent of past champions like Lossiemouth and Majborough, who both graduated from French tracks to Prestbury Park stardom under the same banner.
Mullins, speaking briefly from his yard on the outskirts of town, exuded his trademark quiet confidence. “He’s a big, rangy sort with a lovely way of moving,” the 69-year-old said, his voice carrying the understated assurance that has underpinned 113 Cheltenham Festival victories. “We’ve seen a few like him come over from France—smart, adaptable, and with that extra gear. The schooling’s gone well so far; he’s taken to timber like he’s been doing it for years. We’ll get him out in a maiden soon, but the Triumph? That’s the plan if he shows up.” It’s this blend of preparation and opportunism that has turned Closutton into a breeding ground for juvenile hurdling elite. Proactif joins a glittering roster of new recruits, including the Ricci family’s Willy de Houelle and the once-raced Venusienne, but it’s the McManus-owned bay who has captured the collective imagination.
The timing of this deal is no coincidence. Cheltenham’s stewards, still smarting from the 2025 Triumph’s seismic shock, implemented the so-called “Poniros Rule” earlier this month—a mandate requiring juveniles to have at least one prior hurdles run and a rating of 110 or higher to qualify for Grade One events. The regulation, born from the chaos of Poniros’ 100-1 debut romp in March, was decried by some as a thinly veiled swipe at Mullins’ innovative tactics. “It’s insecurity dressed up as safety,” opined one Irish racing pundit, pointing to the trainer’s trio of unraced hopefuls in last year’s field. Yet, if anything, the rule underscores Proactif’s credentials. His French Listed placing already qualifies him, and with Mullins’ wizardry in the interim, he’s primed to meet—and exceed—the benchmarks.
McManus, the legendary owner whose green-and-gold silks have adorned 72 Cheltenham winners, has long been Mullins’ most trusted ally. Their partnership yielded the 2024 Triumph with Majborough, a horse who reversed Fairyhouse form in style before eyeing fences this autumn. Proactif, though, carries an even higher ceiling. Flat-bred with stamina in his pedigree, he echoes the profile of Vauban, Mullins’ 2022 hero who later conquered the world on the Flat. Early whispers from the yard suggest Proactif’s work on the gallops has been “electric,” with exercise rider comments highlighting his explosive turn of foot—a weapon that could dismantle rivals come March.
Of course, the road to the Triumph is rarely straightforward. Rivals abound: Henderson’s Sir Gino, a Triumph runner-up in 2024, lurks with unfinished business, while Gordon Elliott’s juveniles always punch above their weight. Weather, ground conditions, and the inevitable Mullins stable form—unbeatable when firing—will all play their part. But for now, the narrative is one of unbridled optimism. Punters, burned by Poniros’ surprise package, are piling in, transforming Proactif from dark horse to destiny’s child overnight.
As the jumps season gathers steam, with Fairyhouse and Navan trials looming, all eyes turn to Closutton. Willie Mullins has built an empire on moments like this: spotting talent across the Channel, honing it with surgical precision, and unleashing it on the Cotswolds stage. Proactif may be the latest chapter in that storied saga, but for fans convinced of his coronation, it’s already the headline. In a sport where legends are forged over two miles of testing turf, one thing rings true: when Mullins says “impressive,” the bookmakers—and the history books—listen.
