IT’S fair to say that Neil Mulholland is a trainer going places, although the Wikipedia entry for the Co Antrim village of Glenavy, where he grew up, fails to mention him among its famous residents. True enough, he’s yet to win the Victoria Cross, or become the democratically elected leader of New Zealand but there is plenty of time for such trifles in the future. For now, the 34-year-old has other things on his mind, like consolidating a remarkable record with his chasers at Cheltenham.

Mulholland started his career in racing by riding work in his school holidays for Aidan O’Brien at Piltown. Those were the days when O’Brien’s main patron was wife Annemarie, and it was in her colours that Neil rode his first winner, and on just his fourth ride, aboard Petasus in a maiden at Listowel in 1997, where another teenage claimer called Jason Maguire was left trailing in his wake.

That success promised much but opportunities were thin on the flat and it wasn’t long before the youngster was plying his trade as a dual-purpose rider with old ally Petasus once again providing a landmark success, this time in a handicap hurdle at Down Royal, not far from his childhood home.

DUSTY SHEEHY

It was with Dusty Sheehy that Mulholland gained most of his wins as a conditional jockey in Ireland, but as Sheehy’s star ascended and Mulholland’s claim was eroded, the rides on the yard’s better horses were typically farmed out to bigger names.

Mulholland decided again to make a move, this time to Ferdy Murphy at Leyburn, although he later teamed up with Paul Keane as de facto stable jockey and assistant when the latter was working as salaried trainer at Larkinglass Farm in Dorset.

Keane’s abrupt departure gave Neil the opportunity to train in his own right, and while the venture might have gone awry when the farm’s stud business was sold, the presence of Midnight Chase among that initial crop was a godsend, and the son of Midnight Legend did his best to put his rookie trainer on the map when finishing a fine second in the Martin Pipe at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival, despite a starting price of 100/1.

FLUKE

Dismissed as a fluke by many, Mulholland proved otherwise by bringing Midnight Chase back to Cheltenham on a further 11 occasions, winning five, including the 2012 Argento Chase and that despite the turmoil associated with having to relocate his horses twice, with a period sharing facilities with David Pipe.

Now ensconced at Conkwell Grange, near Bath, the trainer remains justifiably proud of his training record at the home of jump racing, and despite a deserved reputation as the hardest venue for finding winners over fences, the Ulsterman has amassed a tremendous record of seven winners from just 18 runners over fences at Prestbury Park. This record which might read even better had The Druids Nephew not run into a rejuvenated Sam Winner in November. Mulholland has twice landed the amateur riders’ contest at the Showcase meeting, teaming up with Corky Carroll on both occasions, with Iheardu and The Young Master providing owner Mike Burbidge with a notable double.

STANDARD BEARER

The Young Master has taken over from the retired Midnight Chase as standard bearer for the yard and his progress over fences has been truly remarkable. A son of Godolphin’s Echo Of Light out of a mare who scored over five furlongs as a juvenile, he’s hardly got the pedigree of a chaser, and indeed has had plenty of racing on the flat, but that unusual profile hasn’t stopped him. His Cheltenham win was the forerunner to a more controversial success in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton, when a Weatherby’s error meant that he was disqualified for being ineligible to run, although his easy success enabled the official handicapper to adjust his mark sharply upwards which seemed a particularly cruel twist.

Such a setback might have turned the head of a lesser man but Mulholland shrugged off the injustice and refused to be embittered by the loss, turning his stable star out to win the valuable Mappin & Webb Silver Cup (formerly the SGB) at Ascot from his new mark, and putting him firmly in line for bigger prizes as a result.

That form has worked out well, with Saturday’s winner Sound Investment the latest to do his bit after wins for Le Reve and Ardkilly Witness, while runner-up Houblon Des Obeaux was the only one to give Coneygree a race at Newbury recently. The six-year-old holds entries in both the RSA and National Hunt Chases, with the former contest looking the most plausible target. He will have to deal with the likes of King’s Palace and possibly Coneygree to land that race but there must be a chance that he will be underestimated and the formbook screams his chance loud and clear.

Unlike the Midnight Chase days, it’s far from a one-horse show next month which demonstrates the growing strength of the Mulholland operation.

TOO STRONG

A total of eight horses have been entered at the meeting and The Druids Nephew holds a solid chance of lifting the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase on the opening day. Previously with Andy Turnell, for whom he went off second favourite for the novices’ handicap on the same card, The Druids Nephew confirmed himself a well-handicapped horse when winning at Huntingdon in October before finding Sam Winner too strong at Cheltenham the following month. Back in third that day, some 25 lengths behind the son of Kings Theatre, came Saint Are, a winner at Catterick since, and now rated 143 by the BHA. Given he had to concede almost a stone to that rival, The Druids Nephew looks leniently weighted on a mark of 146. Both defeats since can be forgiven with the latest in the Cleeve Hurdle having the look of a smokescreen. He seems to have plenty in his favour and it’s no surprise to see him favourite in most ante-post lists.

Also entered in the Ultima is recent Ascot winner Carole’s Destrier, a strapping sort who ran well at the track in January behind Generous Ransom.

The seven-year-old looks the type to make further progress as a staying chaser and he’s also still in the RSA. Carole’s Destrier was bred at Larkinglass Stud by Mulholland’s former boss, and now business partner Liz Harrington, who was also responsible for the mating which produced Midnight Chase.

Whether he takes his chance at the festival remains to be seen but he is blessed with a similar constitution and running style to the horse who put his trainer on the map and could emulate him in the seasons ahead.

TOUGH HANDICAP

Minella Definitely and Buck Magic could represent Conkwell Grange in the Chaps Restaurant Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase on the opening day but it’s hard to make the final field in that tough handicap, and while the former is just below the projected cut-off point, Buck Magic is unlikely to get in the mix. On the other hand, both have shown their best recent form on right-handed tracks and will qualify for Kempton’s consolation card on the Saturday after the festival finishes.

LIGHTLY RACED

A new addition to the yard is the lightly raced Wadswick Court, who hasn’t had the best of luck for Charlie Longsdon, but might creep into the weights for the Martin Pipe or Coral Cup and wouldn’t be at all badly handicapped if everything clicked.

Stable companion Pass The Time is more exposed, but looks sure to make the cut if aimed at the former contest, having finished second in a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January. She also holds alternative engagements in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle and the County Hurdle where she could be joined by Minella Present.

The son of Presenting disappointed on his handicap debut at Ascot but has been dropped by the handicapper as a result of that flop on unsuitable ground and is the type to bounce back on quicker ground which looks certain on the final day of the festival. Like Midnight Chase, he runs in the colours of Hilda, Lady Clarke.