Willie Mullins has seen his odds drift for Cheltenham Champion trainer after admitting his 2019 team was ‘weaker’ than previous years.

The Irish trainer is a five-time Champion trainer winner at The Festival, but he looks to have his work cut out to repeat the feat later this month.

“We usually have a team of around 60, but we’ll have only about 40 this year,” said Mullins.

“If you were to look at the markets you’d have to say our team is weaker than other years — it isn’t as strong as it usually is.”

Mullins is now as long as 4/1 – which is almost unheard of, with his biggest rival Gordon Elliott cut to Evens to take the title.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “With Willie Mullins admitting to a weaker festival team than previous years, punters are putting their faith in his rival Gordon Elliott bringing home the bacon.”