UK Trainers' Championship latest standings as Willie Mullins gains on Skelton
Dan Skelton's lead over Willie Mullins in the trainers' title race has been slashed to just £24,289 after a successful outing at Perth on Wednesday saw the reigning champion seal a Listed double.
Skelton was previously ahead by £57,777 before the races began. However, it was Mullins who delivered the first noteworthy punch in Scotland.
With Paul Townend as jockey, Mullins' Kiss Will clinched victory in the British EBF Gold Castle "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle, snagging a cool £22,780.
Although Skelton's Royal Infantry came second to soften the impact slightly, Mullins wasn't done yet. He then bagged another combined sum of £25,889 when Fun Fun Fun and Paggane, also with Townend in the saddle, finished first and second in the Quilter Cheviot Fair Maid Of Perth Mares' Chase, tightening the contest for the trainers' championship even further.
Townend told Racing TV: 'It (Perth) is a brilliant place to come, it's a great atmosphere and lovely weather and they've done an incredible job with the ground. I couldn't give them enough plaudits for that, it's beautiful out there.
'I don't know what happened to Kiss Will in Cheltenham, but he travelled well throughout the race today and I hope he can have a bright future.
'Fun Fun Fun made harder work of it than I was hoping, but there was plenty in the tank when I needed it and she's done an important job today.'
On the title race, he added: 'I'll leave someone else to figure the maths!'
While Mullins was the big winner on the day, Skelton did not finish the afternoon empty handed, with Etalon's triumph in the Phil Nelson Capercaillie Handicap Chase at Perth earning him £8,713 and the subsequent success of Jeffery's Cross in the hunter chase at Ludlow worth a further £3,388.
Madajovy also placed for Skelton – whose last runner of the day, Jo's Rainbow, was at Taunton's evening meeting – in the bumper at Ludlow.
Etalon's rider Harry Skelton said: 'He's been difficult to get right at home, but he's brought it all together hopefully when needed. I'd say we need every penny we can get!'
Mullins' sole runner on Thursday is Magic McColgan at Perth, while in contrast Skelton sends out a formidable team of 18 across meetings at Perth, Warwick and Bangor.
Mullins is not represented at all in Britain on Friday, with Skelton declaring two runners at Perth and two at Chepstow, potentially giving him the opportunity to further add to his total ahead of what promises to be an enthralling final day of the season at Sandown on Saturday.
Following collaboration between the British Horseracing Authority and Sandown, the high-profile meeting will begin 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled to ensure ITV viewers can see the final six races on the card and therefore the conclusion of the trainers' championship.
Sandown's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: 'All of us at Sandown Park are excited about bringing the curtain down on what has been a fantastic season and showcasing its thrilling conclusion to fans on course and at home.'
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