Willie Mullins enters simply staggering number of superstars for Sandown showdown with Dan Skelton
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WILLIE MULLINS has entered a simply staggering number of superstars for his Sandown showdown with Dan Skelton.
The legendary Irish trainer is going all out in his bid to land a second straight British jumps trainer title.
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Willie Mullins will be going all out in his bid to land a second straight British jumps trainer title at Dan Skelton's expense
Credit: Sportsfile
Skelton, who has never won the crown before and was pipped by Mullins last season, is just £27,878.44 ahead in the standings.
But Mullins will be looking to turn that around and then some at the blockbuster jumps finale.
Mullins has entered a massive 38 runners for the seven-race card, the highlight of which is the bet365 Gold Cup, worth a shade under £100,000 to the winner.
He won it last year with Minella Cocooner and he is entered again, along with current 6-1 High Class Hero.
While multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing City - who is being backed into 8-1 - and Scottish Grand National winner Captain Cody complete the top three in the betting.
The classy Impaire Et Passe is a 16-1 chance too in a race where Mullins could also have Grangeclare West, Quai De Bourbon, Lombron, Olympic Man, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Paggane, Chosen Witness, A Penny A Hundred, Judicieuse Allen and Klarc Kent.
The big names and where they could run
2.25pm Oaksey Chase (2m7f)
Gaelic Warrior, El Fabiolo, Il Etait Temps
3.00pm Celebration Chase (2m)
Energumene, Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps, Impaire Et Passe
3.35pm bet365 Gold Cup (3m5f)
Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner, Dancing City
4.10pm bet365 Select Hurdle (2m5f)
El Fabiolo, Lossiemouth
The Galacticos don't stop there.
In the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase Mullins has put Appreciate It, Blue Lord, Classic Getaway, El Fabiolo, Gaelic Warrior and Gentleman De Mee in the mix.
While Il Etait Temps could make his return after almost a year off after being entered too.
Jonbon has made the Celebration Chase his own for trainer Nicky Henderson - whose No1 jockey Nico de Boinville was in hospital on Easter Monday after a dreadful fall at Plumpton.
But Mullins is looking to take him on with the likes of the doubly-entered Gaelic Warrior, Energumene, Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe.
El Fabiolo is an intriguing entry in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle, where Mullins could also be represented by Jade De Grugy, Kitzbuhel and… Lossiemouth.
Rich Ricci's monstrous mare could be racing against her namesake, with Polly Gundry's ten-year-old gelding Lossiemouth also entered.
The potential runners don't stop there, either, with Mullins throwing the kitchen sink at the final two races.
You won't find Mullins have too many winners in Class 2 handicap chases but he has entered Chosen Witness, Lombron, O'Moore Park and Paggane in the 4.45.
While the final race on the card, which could decide the whole title race, is set to feature the likes of Bunting, Dr Eggman, Jump Allen and King Alexander.
Mullins isn't one prone to exaggeration and quizzed on his colossal number of entries, he quipped: "Is that all?"
Bookies make Mullins 2-11 to win a second title in a row with Skelton out to 7-2.
Coral's David Stevens said: "Although Dan outscored Willie in prize money terms at Plumpton, the latter got a winner on the board in the finale at the Sussex track, and more importantly, has made a host of top class entries for Sandown next Saturday, a day that is sure to be crucial in deciding the outcome of this title race."
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