Willie Mullins suffers heartbreaking loss on day he's crowned champion trainer
Willie Mullins held off Dan Skelton's challenge to win the British trainers' championship for the 2024-5 season, retaining the title he won 12 months ago.
The Closutton maestro claimed the top spot for a second year running, after closing out the season at Sandown Park on Saturday with victories in multiple races, including the final race of the day secured by Jump Allen.
However, a tragic incident tempered the Irishman's celebration, as Dancing City, who had claimed three Grade One wins as a novice hurdler, suffered a fatal injury during the bet365 Gold Cup.
Mullins' accomplishment comes as the season drew to a close with him ending on an advantage of £199,507 over Skelton, with both trainers breaking the £3million barrier. This marked a personal best for Skelton's career earnings despite narrowly missing the top spot.
ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin expressed his heartfelt sympathies for Dancing City's connections, adding stable staff and owner Marie Donnelly were shattered by the stayer's demise, reports the Mirror.
A X user expressed admiration for the fallen thoroughbred, adding a poignant message "What a horse, sad way to end the day ... RIP Dancing City."
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Fans' touching tributes to Dancing City went viral as one X user posted "Such a sad end to the day, and the season as a whole. Run free, Dancing City."
Mullins wrapped up the season in style with a treble, which included top victories in the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase with Il Etait Temps and the Grade Two bet365 Oaksey Chase with Gaelic Warrior.
The 68-year-old trainer rounded off the day with a win by Jump Allen (5-1) in the final event, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle.
In recent weeks, Mullins had faced challenges, and acknowledged the difficulties he and his rival Dan Skelton had faced.
"The last few weeks have been tough and they must have been tough for Dan too. That's the way things go," he said. "I am very happy for all our connections and owners who once again have supported us with their horses."
"I was reading more about other sports because there was so much going on in racing I tried to keep away from it all. Otherwise, you couldn't get through it and I'm sure Dan was the same."
Meanwhile, Dan Skelton chose to focus on the positives, after what had been a thrilling season marked by the emergence of The New Lion as a future star. "There was an air of inevitability about it today," Skelton said.
"We will try harder and aim higher."
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