Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud has removed around 60 horses from Willie Mullins after a disagreement about the Irish champion trainer raising his fees.

Confirming the split with Gigginstown, the Racing Post reported Mullins as saying: "Yes, we are parting company. It is basically over fees. I put my fees up for the first time in ten years. They will be very hard horses to replace. I don't know where they're going to go.

" Everyone who comes into my yard is treated the same. I see enough people going to the wall in Ireland all the time. We've evolved our methods of training, which obviously costs a lot, and we're not prepared to sacrifice that.

"It's only been in the last few hours this has come about. I wish them the best, it's the way it is, we move on. Whoever gets the horses will be a big challenge to me being champion trainer, they are a fantastic team of horses."

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