Willie Mullins going for Gold at Sandown in bid to defend title

RTÉ News​

25-04-2025

Willie Mullins is responsible for half of the 20-strong field for the £175,000 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday, with the outcome of the race likely to go a long way to deciding if the master of Closutton defends his British champion trainer crown.
Mullins trailed Dan Skelton by £57,718 when racing got under way on the penultimate afternoon of the National Hunt season across the Irish Sea, but it's Mullins who will boast by far the stronger hand in the lucrative handicap.
Grand National third Grangeclare West runs for Mullins, meaning 11 of the field run from out of the handicap, while the trainer also saddles defending champion Minella Cocooner and High Class Hero, who is Mullins' idea of the stable first string.
The 68-year-old said: "Paul rides High Class Hero and he's one who is going to be high on the list, if not right at the top.
"We switched from the Irish National to this late, we had a lot of rain in Fairyhouse and we just felt a drier track would suit him.
"Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner both ran well in the National and must have their chances."
There is also a Grade One winner amongst the Closutton team in Dancing City, while Mullins fancies O'Moore Park to go close having knocked on the door at Cheltenham the last twice.
"Dancing City fell at Aintree but on his form before that you'd think he would have a really good chance and I think he's a good enough jumper, maybe we just concentrate on getting him around, then see," said Mullins.
"O'Moore Park is due a big race and has been improving all season, whether that win is this or next season, I don't know."
Others on the Mullins teamsheet include Olympic Man, Lombron, Klarc Kent, Spanish Harlem and Chosen Witness, with the reigning champion trainer not ruling any out of contention.
He said: "Olympic Man was running a great race for Patrick in Ayr and will be ridden by Johnny Burke. He will be wearing a hood for the first time as he just raced with the choke out a little bit at Ayr and he won't be without a chance.
"Klarc Kent ran a cracker when second in the Scottish National, but even with Kieran Callaghan claiming 5lb, he's still going to be out the handicap.
"Spanish Harlem I think will like this nice ground and he's not out of it and the same applies to Chosen Witness.
"They are two horses I haven't really run before on this type of ground, but I think it's time they did and we take a punt on the ground. They are two big, chasing types that I had been keeping to ground with soft in, but at this stage of the game it's time to let them take their chance."
Hoe Joly Smoke will fly the flag for Skelton, with the trainer's brother Harry Skelton at his near minimum weight to ride.
"We never entered him in the Scottish National, rightly or wrongly, because I always felt this was the right race for him. We didn't expect Grangeclare West to turn up, but that's happened because of circumstances and we're 12lb wrong before we start," said Skelton.
"We've got to give it a go. I feel a bit sorry for Harry, who has got to do 10st 2lb, which is not exactly a walk in the park, but he'd do 9st 2lb at the moment for me – I know how much support I've got from him and I know how much he wants it.
"We've got a nice chance, but the data shows it's going to be 12lb difficult before we start."
Skelton will also be cheering on fellow British trainers Olly Murphy and Emma Lavelle, who saddle the tough Resplendent Grey and in-form King's Threshold respectively seeking their own slice of the prize-fund, with the value of the former's National Hunt Chase fourth to Haiti Couleurs given a significant boost recently.