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Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mullins reflects on 'tough' few weeks after being crowned UK champion trainer
Willie Mullins has revealed his battle with Dan Skelton to be crowned champion trainer in the UK has been "tough mentally". The Closutton handler edged out Skelton after a fantastic afternoon at Sandown on Saturday as wins for Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps put him within touching distance of securing the title before he had the second, third, fourth and fifth-placed horses behind Resplendent Grey in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase with Lombron, High Class Hero, Spanish Harlem and Grangeclare West respectively. The past few weeks have seen Mullins send horses to multiple courses up and down the UK and he admits is has been tough going. 'The last few weeks have been tough and they must have been tough for Dan too," said Mullins. "That's the way things go. 'I am very happy for all our connections and owners who once again have supported us with their horses. 'I am very happy to have won the title for the second time this year but I am not making any predictions for next season and we still have a week of the season to go in Ireland. I am going home now to get ready for next week. 'As I said last week, it feels special to do something similar to what Vincent O'Brien did but of course he then and went and also did it on the Flat which I won't be doing! 'I am very happy doing what I'm doing and am very happy for the owners, staff and the home team, starting with Jackie my wife. 'It's been tough mentally and I haven't read the papers for the last four days with so much going on or watched RacingTV. 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. 'The press and TV make it all so public and it has been great publicity for the sport going down to the last day.'
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Niall Houlihan and Jamie Brace taken to hospital after brutal falls which saw race stopped
The two jockeys were assessed after falling in races at two different tracks on Friday. Houlihan was unshipped from Drumheller in a hurdle race which was voided while medics rushed to the scene Two jockeys were taken to hospital on the same afternoon after heavy falls at different racecourses. Jamie Brace required attention from the medical team when High Treason unseated him at the eight fence of a three-mile handicap chase at Perth on Friday. A number of racing fans watching the event shared their concerns on social media platform X for the rider, who was reported to be conscious before he was taken from the track for further assessment. High Treason's part-owner Philippa Burrough said the results will keep conditional Brace, 27, out of action for some time. "Thoughts with jockey Jamie Brace who has broken his back riding High Treason today @PerthRacecourse for @NigelTwistonDav @willy_twiston and us," she posted. "Mend well Jamie and thanks to the @IJF_official who will be looking after him for the next few months. Such a tough sport." Later on Friday, medics rushed to Houlihan's side after he fell heavily from Drumheller at the third flight of a hurdle for staying horses. The race was voided once the runners had crossed two more jumps as they could not go round him safely. Houlihan's principal employer Gary Moore said fortunately he was able to return home from hospital the same evening. "All he's got is three stitches under his chin and it's amazing he's walked away like that," he told the Racing Post. The stewards' report read: "The clerk of the course explained that the position of the stricken rider after the hurdle meant there was insufficient room for the runners to bypass safely and therefore, he took the decision to initiate the 'stop race' procedure. The stewards declared the race void and ordered a report to be forwarded to the head office of the British Horseracing Authority." The two jockeys join Nico de Boinville on the sidelines following a fall from a Nicky Henderson-trained runner at Fontwell on Easter Monday. He hurt his neck and broke several ribs, which gave Mark Walsh a rare opportunity on star chaser Jonbon at Sandown's season finale today. The programme sees a final showdown between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins for the trainers' championship, with the early results in favour of the Irishman. Mullins has bet365 Gold Cup favourite High Class Hero leading his ten-strong squad in the feature contest at 4.10pm.
Rhyl Journal
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Skelton fears title chances may go up in Smoke
The Closutton handler is responsible for half of the 20-strong field and with Grand National third Grangeclare West topping the weights, it means Skelton's course winner will have to race from out of the handicap and with the trainer's brother Harry Skelton at his near minimum weight to ride. However, the Lodge Hill team are hopeful the decision to skip the Scottish Grand National will pay dividend as they bid to keep trainers' title dreams alive in a race that could prove crucial. A big success for the Skeltons with Hoe Joly Smoke! 🥇 How many winners will the Skeltons have this week at Cheltenham? 🏆#ITVRacing — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 9, 2025 '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. Murphy said: 'He ran well in Cheltenham. He didn't go round very well but he came home strong. We'll ride him a little bit differently. 'He's got first-time cheekpieces and hopefully they will help him, he's got a lovely weight on his back and if he gets into a rhythm, he's got an each-way chance.' Sean Bowen will pick up his first title on the day but had to get off Haiti Couleurs at Cheltenham to ride Resplendent Grey and still awaits a first Festival winner. He did, though, win the Irish National on Rebecca Curtis' charge on Monday. Murphy added: 'It would be great if Sean could wrap up the season by winning this. He's been freshened up and we're looking forward to running him.' Neil Mulholland's Transmission was a place behind Resplendent Grey at Cheltenham, while Skelton's old boss Paul Nicholls runs Threeunderthrufive. However, it is hard to ignore the aces Mullins has up his sleeve and as well as the aforementioned Grangeclare West, he will saddle the likes of defending champion Minella Cocooner and High Class Hero, who is the trainer's idea of the stable first string. Mullins 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.'
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Horse racing tips: Bet365 Gold Cup 14-1 pick plus 1-2-3-4 for last major race of jumps season
Willie Mullins has ten runners in the bet365 Gold Cup, making it highly likely he will land the prize again and collect the British jumps trainers' championship Stand by for an epic climax to the 2024-25 jumps campaign. Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton take their gripping head-to-head for the trainers' championship to the last day of the season. The pair have been locked in a daily battle since Mullins claimed an unprecedented 1-2-3 in the Grand National to put himself right on the heels of longtime leader Skelton, who has never won the title. The contest, which is determined by prize-money, has ebbed and flowed every day and it will go down to the wire on Saturday at Sandown which hosts the bet365 Jumps Finale. Mullins jointly holds both the Irish and British jumps trainers' titles, sealing his first British championship last April when Minella Cocooner landed the bet365 Gold Cup in an end of season spree which included victories in the Grand National and Scottish Grand National. This time he has followed success at Aintree with another victory in the Scottish Grand National and has declared ten, half the field, in the feature handicap of a meeting when £685,000 up for grabs. ITV has changed the running order to ensure the outcome of the Mullins vs Skelton battle gets live coverage. So in collaboration with Sandown and the BHA the first race of the day will now start at 1.20pm, 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled. Mullins has so much firepower he may have overwhelmed Skelton by the time the 20 runners line up for the feature race in which his opponent has just one runner. He is highly likely to win the race again, but which horse will it be? His ten runners are analysed below. Grangeclare West (Bryan Hayes) Latest William Hill odds - 16-1 The classiest horse in the field, having chased home Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. Ran right up to form in the Grand National finishing third behind Nick Rockett and bound to be in the mix again. Minella Cocooner (Danny Mullins) - 14-1 Last year's big race winner hasn't added to his score since but produced his best run of the campaign to take seventh in the Grand National. Only 2lb higher up the handicap than 12 months ago and another for the shortlist. Dancing City (Jonjo O'Neill Jr) 8-1 Was on a four race winning spree until disappointing at Cheltenham. Came down too early in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree to work out where he may have finished. Could bring a touch of class if he copes with quicker ground. High Class Hero (Paul Townend) 6-1 Townend rarely picks the wrong horse but it's possible his boss has decided to keep faith with Danny Mullins, who rode the victorious Minella Cocooner last year, and Bryan Hayes, who has ridden Grangeclare West on his last three starts. High Class Hero is still an unknown quantity and had an off day when beaten at odds of 2-13 last time. Lombron (Rachael Blackmore) 33-1 Off the mark over fences at the third attempt in a small race at Clonmel in March. Has a lot more on his plate this time. Olympic Man (Jonathan Burke) 40-1 Runs in the Galopin Des Champs colours, he started favourite for the Scottish Grand National and ran well for a long way until tiring. Should appreciate the shorter trip. O'Moore Park (Sean O'Keeffe) 25-1 Takes a significant step up in distance from 2lb out of the handicap. Showed what he was capable of when third in the Golden Miller at the Festival and was second on his return to Cheltenham this month for the Silver Trophy. He could offer a lot more. Spanish Harlem (Sam Twiston-Davies) 40-1 Carried out in the Scottish Grand National, in which he finished sixth a year earlier, is winless from nine runs over fences. Chosen Witness (Kevin Sexton) 25-1 Hasn't completed his last two starts so a clear round would be a decent effort on the evidence of recent form. Klarc Kent (Kieran Callaghan (5)) 25-1 Improved on last year's fourth place to finish second in the Scottish Grand National but still yet to win a chase from 12 efforts and is out of the handicap this time. 1-2-3-4 Verdict: Minella Cocooner, Dancing City, Grangeclare West, O'Moore Park
Irish Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mullins and Skelton Sandown teams as trainers' championship goes to the wire
Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have a total of 30 runners at Sandown between them on Saturday as their tussle for the trainers' championship goes to the wire. Skelton has a narrow lead over the Closutton maestro, having led the way since flag fall. But Mullins' typically strong spring on UK soil, including victories in both the Grand National at Aintree and Scottish Grand National at Ayr for the second year running, have seen the defending champion eat significantly into the deficit, with only £24,561 separating the pair at the time of declarations. If the Lodge Hill handler is to win his first title, he will have to survive a strong Closutton invasion this weekend with some of the Irish handler's big names joining their stablemates on the journey to Esher. Mullins is responsible for 10 of the 20 runners in the £175,000 bet365 Gold Cup, which could be crucial in deciding in which direction the trophy heads, while Skelton will rely on just course winner Hoe Joly Smoke, who has had this race as his target since scoring here in March. Amongst the Mullins battalion is Grand National third Grangeclare West, Aintree seventh Minella Cocooner and top-class pair Dancing City and High Class Hero. Away from the championship clash, Nicky Henderson's Jonbon heads the seven engaged in the bet365 Celebration Chase as he attempts to win the race for the third successive year. However, the race could still have a real bearing on the title race with Mullins saddling dual Champion Chase hero Energumene and the returning Il Etait Temps, while Unexpected Party and Harper's Brook will do battle for Skelton. Aintree Bowl scorer Gaelic Warrior leads the Mullins assault on the bet365 Oaksey Chase, with Topham winner Gentleman De Mee, Appreciate It and Classic Getaway are also on the teamsheet. Skelton saddles Boombawn in the Grade Two event, but may be hoping his old boss Paul Nicholls can help him out, with Ascot Chase hero Pic D'Orhy the form pick of the British-trained hopefuls. Lossiemouth bypasses the bet365 Select Hurdle, with Kitzbuhel the raiding representative from County Carlow. Skelton relies on both Gwennie May Boy and Take No Chances. Mullins is now 1/10 with Boylesports to retain the British Champion Jumps Trainer crown this weekend. Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: 'We were expecting a goliath entry at Sandown from Team Mullins and that's exactly what we've got. Punters are already latching onto the Irish raiders to be part of another historic day at Sandown, which would cap off the most incredible season for Closutton.'
