Willie Mullins looks set for a busy few days, with plenty of horses set to run for the Closutton trainer in the UK as he aims to retain the British Trainers' Championship.
The 68-year-old became the first Irish trainer since the great Vincent O'Brien 70 years earlier to win the UK championship in 2024 and is well on course to pipping Dan Skelton to the title once again.
Mullins trails the English trainer by £52,775 in prize money, with neither man having runners in the UK on Tuesday before they both send teams to Perth on Wednesday and Thursday, while both are also represented at Ludlow on Wednesday. Skelton has runners at Taunton, Warwick and Bangor-on-Dee across the next few days too.
But it looks almost certain that the championship will go right down to the wire on Jumps Finale Day at Sandown this Saturday, with huge prize money up for grabs.
Betting firms slashed the odds on Mullins winning the championship on Tuesday due to the quality entries he has at Sandown.
Paddy Power cut the Co Carlow handler's odds into 2-9 fav from 4-11 fav, while Skelton is out to 3/1 from 15-8.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Having assessed the strength of entries Willie has in the coming week and after seeing support for a lot of his runners on Saturday, we now consider Dan to have quite an uphill battle to wrestle the title away from the Irishman and have cut Willie accordingly.”
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Mullins has entered 38 horses at Sandown, with Ladbrokes slashing his odds into 2/11 from 1/4 to pick up the sought after trainer trophy ahead of Skelton, who is now 7/2 from 3/1 with the firm.
Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes commented: “Mullins is showing his ruthless winning side this weekend. It has been an outstanding battle with Dan Skelton and now the odds are now heavily in the Irishman’s favour with 38 horses flying his flag.”
Mullins has stated that 'all options are open' ahead of the weekend.
When asked if Sandown was more likely than Punchestown for Lossiemouth, who has starred at both Cheltenham and Aintree this season, Mullins said: “That’s too early to say at this stage.
“We will see how the rest of the week goes, we are only planning it day by day.
“We will see what way the prize-money shakes up and then chat to Rich Ricci (owner). He is usually a great supporter of the team.
“I remember a few years ago he brought over Benie Des Dieux and we took her home on the day when things didn’t work out.
“All options are open, that’s what I’m saying."
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