WILLIE MULLINS HAS confirmed that he as “parted company” with Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud ownership group.

The Champion Trainer told At The Races this morning that he believed the split was related to him raising his training fees for the first time in a decade.

He said:

“We’re parting company – it’s basically over fees, I imagine. I put up my fees for the first time in 10 years and Gigginstown chose not to pay them.

That’s it, we’re just parting company.

“I’m not willing to try to maintain the standards I have (without putting the fees up), so that’s the way it is.”

Earlier this year Gigginstown removed their horses from the yards of Tony Martin and Sandra Hughes over disappointing results.

It is not yet know where the 60 horses — which includes Grade One winners such as Don Poli, Apple’s Jade, Valseur Lido and Sir Des Champs — will land though Gordon Elliott and Mouse Morris both have existing relationships with Gigginstown.

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