Following almost 12 months of duelling, the finish line is in sight in the race to become British jumps racing Champion Trainer. Deep inside the final furlong, only two men remain in contention, with Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins forging well clear of the chasing pack. But who will come out on top?
Following an English and Scottish Grand National double, the odds compilers believed it was only a matter of time until Willie Mullins muscled his way past Skelton. However, with only a few days remaining, Skelton still holds the lead and shows no sign of going down without a fight.
Shortly before the close of play on Thursday, Skelton had registered an across-the-card treble to extend his lead to just £60,000 over the defending champion. That’s a nice buffer to have, but the former assistant to Paul Nicholls must still negotiate Finale Day at Sandown on Saturday, 26th April. With £680,000 on offer across the seven-race card, the Esher venue will play a decisive role in determining who gets their hands on the trophy.
Unsurprisingly, both trainers are strongly represented on the final day, but who holds the edge? Here, we look at the Mullins and Skelton-trained challengers in each of the seven events.
bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle – Total Prize Money: £100,000
Race 1 represents the calm before the storm, with neither Mullins nor Skelton holding an entry in this two-mile event for the up-and-coming hurdlers.
bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase – Total Prize Money: £40,000
- Willie Mullins – No Entry
- Dan Skelton – A free hit for Skelton, who fires his opening shot with the hat-trick-seeking Riskintheground. Picking up £25,770 for a win at Ayr, he added £39,865 when mastering the Mullins-trained O’Moore Park at Cheltenham last time. Only two pounds higher than for that latest win, he looks to have solid claims of extending Skelton’s lead
bet365 Oaksey Chase – Total Prize Money: £80,000
- Willie Mullins – Having sat out the opening events, Mullins unleashes four-time Grade 1 winner Gaelic Warrior in race three. Back to form last time out at Aintree, he’s the one they all have to beat. Joining Gaelic Warrior in a strong race for Mullins are Appreciate It, who has a trio of Grade 1 triumphs to his name, Gentleman De Mee, who has two, and Classic Getaway, who won a Grade 2 contest by six lengths in February
- Dan Skelton – Skelton can’t match Mullins artillery but will hope to pick up some prize money with Grade 2 winner Boombawn
bet365 Select Hurdle – Total Prize Money: £80,000
- Willie Mullins – Just one entry from Closutton in race 4, but it is Kitzbuhel who currently heads the market. Having won his first two starts for Mullins, he disappointed in the Liverpool Hurdle last time and may need to improve in the first-time headgear
- Dan Skelton – The mare Take No Chances heads a two-pronged attack for Skelton. Whilst no match for Lossiemouth in her two most recent outings, she mastered the talented Kargese in January and benefits from a seven-pound mares’ allowance. Second-string Gwennie May Boy disappointed in the Liverpool Hurdle but comes into contention on his earlier Grade 2 win at Haydock
bet365 Celebration Chase – Total Prize Money: £175,000
- Willie Mullins – Jonbon is the hot favourite to defend his crown in this event. However, if there is a shock, Mullins is the man most likely to provide it. Energumene may be advancing in years but is a dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, whilst the returning Il Etait Temps has four Grade 1 wins in the book
- Dan Skelton – On form and ratings, Skelton can expect only minor place money with Unexpected Party, who is zero from seven at Grade 2 level or above, and the erratic Harper’s Brook, whose most recent success came in a Class 2 handicap
bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase – Total Prize Money: £175,000
- Willie Mullins – Of the seven races on the card, this £175,000 event is likely the one which Skelton fears most. Of the 20 runners set to line up, no fewer than 10 hail from the yard of Willie Mullins, including market leader High Class Hero, three-time Grade 1 winner Dancing City, Grand National third Grangeclare West, and defending champ Minella Cocooner
- Dan Skelton – In a race he is likely to watch through his fingers, Skelton relies solely on course winner Holy Joe Smoke to defy the overwhelming Mullins squadron
bet365 Handicap Hurdle – Total Prize Money: £35,000
- Willie Mullins – With four entries, Mullins is taking few chances in the finale. Jump Allen bids to strike another blow for the blossoming Mullins/Harry Cobden combo, topweight Bunting is the choice of Paul Townend, Dr Eggman carries the famous Susannah Ricci silks, and King Alexander is expected to fare better than when down the field in the Coral Cup last time
- Dan Skelton – Skelton will hope to take the battle to the final race as his two contenders have solid claims. Mostly Sunny arrives on the back of an impressive win at Plumpton, whilst Got Grey suggested his turn may be near when running on for second at Haydock last time
The odds and weight of numbers suggest Mullins will reel Skelton in on the final day. But will he do it? Don’t miss the thrilling finale of another memorable campaign on Saturday afternoon.