Latest news with #JumpsFinale
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sandown race card and tips - list of runners as Mullins and Skelton do battle
It all comes down to the Jumps Finale at Sandown to see who will be crowned champion trainer. Willie Mullins trails Dan Skelton by £68,482 ahead of the final day of the UK Trainers' Championship - but has a top class team heading to the Surrey venue as he aims to retain the title he won 12 months ago. Among them is recent Aintree winners Gaelic Warrior and Gentleman De Mee, as well two-time Champion Chaser Energumene, who faces Jonbon. Kitzbuhel is a short-priced favourite for the Select Hurdle, while Grand National third Grangeclare West is one of ten runners for the Closutton trainer in the bet365 Gold Cup. Here's a full list of the runners and riders, as well as a tip for each race: 1:20pm bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 216y 1 Give It To Me Oj 4 12 0 Mr Omar Jackson Gary & Josh Moore Caoilin Quinn 2 Serious Challenge (IRE) 5 11 13 Martin St Quinton & TheYesNoWaitSorries Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke 3 Wolf Moon 5 11 8 Mrs F Hook Ben Pauling Ben Jones 4 HMS President (IRE) 8 11 8 HP Racing HMS President Alan King Tom Cannon 5 St Pancras 4 11 7 Andrew & Sarah Wates Toby Lawes Kevin Brogan 6 Mythical Moon 5 11 5 The Lee Family, A Stennett & J Wright Alan King Brendan Powell 7 We're Red And Blue 5 11 5 Mr. Patrick Doyle Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr. 8 Kientzheim (FR) 5 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson James Bowen 9 Sorceleur (FR) ts 5 11 3 John White & Anne Underhill Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 10 Big Ginge (IRE) 5 11 1 Mr J. D. Neild Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr Jamie Neild (7) 11 John Barbour ts 6 11 1 Old Gold Racing 26 Fergal O'Brien Jack Hogan 12 Fasol ts, p 6 11 0 Mr P. J. Vogt and Mr Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls Harry Skelton 13 Quantock Hills (FR) 4 11 0 Jim and Claire Limited Warren Greatrex Paul O'Brien 14 Marche d'Aligre (FR) 4 10 10 Billam Roe Swindell Wilson & the Molds Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 15 Nardaran (FR) ts, p 4 10 7 Martin Broughton & Friends 2 Paul Nicholls Sean Bowen Tip: Kientzheim Click on this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest Cheltenham Festival news and top stories from the Irish Mirror direct to your phone on WhatsApp. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 1:50pm bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 4f 10y 1 Mark of Gold 8 12 0 Stevie Fisher & Friends Gary & Josh Moore Caoilin Quinn 2 Insurrection (IRE) ts 8 11 11 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate - Insurrect Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 3 Bad (FR) bl 6 11 9 Mr D. P. Howden Ben Pauling Ben Jones 4 Riskintheground (IRE) ts 8 11 9 3 Sons Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5 Mahons Glory (IRE) 9 11 7 C Nightingale & Hold My Beer Partnership Dylan Cunha Lee Edwards 6 Pic Roc (IRE) p 7 11 5 Mrs Emma Kendall Ben Pauling Kielan Woods 7 Inedit Star (FR) 7 10 13 Crossed Fingers Partnership Nick Kent Tom Broughton (5) 8 Eyed ts 8 10 9 Mr Martin Hughes Hughie Morrison Jonathan Burke 9 Classic Anthem (IRE) 7 10 7 The Minions Jim Boyle Sean Bowen Tip: Classic Anthem 2:25pm bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2) 2m 6f 164y 1 Appreciate It (IRE) ts 11 11 8 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland Sean O'Keeffe 2 Classic Getaway (IRE) 9 11 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland Danny Mullins 3 Gaelic Warrior (GER) h,ts 7 11 8 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend 4 Pic D'orhy (FR) ts 10 11 8 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 5 Ga Law (FR) bl 9 11 6 The Footie Partnership Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 6 Gentleman de Mee (FR) ts 9 11 6 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Mark Walsh 7 Boombawn (IRE) 8 11 5 Bullen-Smith & Faulks Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 8 Le Patron (FR) ts, p 7 11 5 Mrs E. Avery Gary & Josh Moore David Noonan 9 Hitman (FR) ts, p 9 11 2 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell Tip: Gaelic Warrior 3:00pm bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 5f 110y 1 Blueking d'Oroux (FR) 6 11 10 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 2 Gwennie May Boy (IRE) 7 11 10 Ms Gwendoline M Clarke Dan Skelton Charlie Todd 3 Lucky Place (FR) 6 11 10 Mrs G. Van Geest & Mr M. George Nicky Henderson James Bowen 4 Kitzbuhel (FR) h 5 11 8 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend 5 Salver (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Keith Graves Gary & Josh Moore Caoilin Quinn 6 Take No Chances (IRE) 7 11 3 Mr Garry Wilson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton Tip: Kitzbuhel 3:35pm bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y 1 Edwardstone 11 11 10 Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle Alan King Tom Cannon 2 Energumene (FR) 11 11 10 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend 3 Harper's Brook (IRE) p 9 11 10 The Megsons Dan Skelton Kielan Woods 4 Il Etait Temps (FR) h,ts 7 11 10 Hollywood Racing & Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland Danny Mullins 5 Jonbon (FR) 9 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Mark Walsh 6 Master Chewy (IRE) 8 11 10 Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 7 Unexpected Party (FR) ts 10 11 10 O'Reilly MacLennan Tynan Carthy Shanahan Dan Skelton Harry Skelton Tip: Jonbon 4:10pm bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 4f 146y 1 Grangeclare West (IRE) 9 12 0 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland Brian Hayes 2 Minella Cocooner (IRE) 9 11 1 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins Ireland Danny Mullins 3 Threeunderthrufive (IRE) ts, p 10 11 0 McNeill Family Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 4 Dancing City (FR) 8 10 11 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland Jonjo O'Neill Jr. 5 High Class Hero 8 10 8 Sullivan Group Limited W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend 6 Victtorino (FR) 7 10 8 Martians Racing Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7 Monbeg Genius (IRE) ts, p 9 10 5 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill Richie McLernon 8 Lombron (FR) 6 10 2 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland Rachael Blackmore 9 Olympic Man (FR) h 8 10 2 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Ireland Jonathan Burke 10 Resplendent Grey (IRE) p 7 10 2 Mrs R. J. Skan Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 11 O'Moore Park (IRE) h 8 10 2 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland Sean O'Keeffe 12 Goshen (FR) p 9 10 2 Mr Steven Packham Gary & Josh Moore Niall Houlihan 13 Spanish Harlem (FR) ts, p 7 10 2 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald W. P. Mullins Ireland Sam Twiston-Davies 14 Collectors Item (IRE) bl 8 10 2 Jackdaws Antiques Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill Kevin Brogan 15 Chosen Witness (IRE) h,ts 8 10 2 Monabeg Investments Limited W. P. Mullins Ireland Kevin Sexton 16 King's Threshold (IRE) ts 8 10 2 Sailing to Byzantium Emma Lavelle Ben Jones 17 Transmission (IRE) p 8 10 2 Paul McKeon Neil Mulholland Conor O'Farrell 18 Klarc Kent (FR) p 9 10 2 Mr Colm O'Connell W. P. Mullins Ireland Kieran Callaghan (5) 19 Hoe Joly Smoke ts 7 10 2 Babbitt Racing Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 20 Knockanore (IRE) p 8 10 2 Ms J. Bennett Ryan Potter Freddie Mitchell (3) Tip: High Class Hero 4:45pm bet365 Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 173y 1 Bunting (FR) 5 12 0 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend 2 King Alexander (IRE) 7 11 11 Mr John I Neocleous W. P. Mullins Ireland Brian Hayes 3 Push The Button (IRE) p 6 11 11 Jimmy & Susie Wenman Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 4 Dr Eggman (FR) 7 11 9 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland Danny Mullins 5 Electric Mason (IRE) 6 11 6 KTDA Racing and Mrs Nicola Morris Chris Gordon Freddie Gordon (3) 6 Jump Allen (FR) ts 6 11 4 McSweeney Bros. Quarries Limited W. P. Mullins Ireland Harry Cobden 7 Ike Sport (FR) h,ts, p 7 11 4 The Chosen Few Neil Mulholland Conor O'Farrell 8 Peacenik (IRE) 6 11 0 Mr Nick Elliott Katy Price Shane Quinlan (3) 9 Mostly Sunny (IRE) p 6 10 5 (6lb ex) Mighty Macs Syndicate Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 10 Got Grey (FR) ts 6 10 3 Only Here For The Beer Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell (3) Tip: Bunting
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Dan Skelton compares final day battle with Willie Mullins to 'facing the executioner'
Despite holding a small prize-money advantage over his Irish rival for the British jumps trainer's championship, Skelton appeared to concede the race on Thursday Dan Skelton appeared to have accepted his fate in the gripping 2024-25 British trainers' championship battle with Willie Mullins on Thursday. Skelton, who has yet to win the crown, has led the title race for most of the campaign and will go into Saturday's bet365 Jumps Finale day at Sandown still holding a small prize-money advantage over his Irish rival. Yet such is the firepower at Mullins's disposal that he has made 21 declarations for the meeting, including 10, half the field, in the bet365 Gold Cup, while Skelton has declared nine, a mismatch that bookmakers believe make victory for 1-12 chance Mullins inevitable.. Skelton, who has trained 175 winners and earned more than £3.3 million in prize-money this season, added to his score at Warwick and has more chances on Friday before the weekend. Yet after a win at Warwick, he spoke about the challenge to RacingTV, saying: 'It was inevitable. I knew it was coming. I knew it was coming since Aintree. We've tried our best to extend the lead the best we can. He's always just kept us in check by running a few horses in the bigger races where he can place them. 'I think there is an air of inevitability about it unfortunately on Saturday, but I've enjoyed the last three weeks immensely. I wouldn't change it for the world. If we get beat, we get beat. I've learned a lot about myself, my staff, my owners. They've been absolutely phenomenal.' He continued: 'We've never been champion trainer. I've worked for one, I knew what it was like. I've never done it myself, my team have never done it, my owners have never done it. They've got as much desire as I have and I love to see that. 'The support we've had around the tracks has been phenomenal. I wouldn't change it for a moment. I knew what was coming. I'm not surprised what's there. It's going to be hard to resist. I hope, now they've changed the ITV schedule, that I can keep the ball in the air long enough for it to have been worthwhile to be honest with you. 'We'll go down there, I'll have a smile on my face. It might feel like you are walking out there to face the executioner. We won't give up. Maybe I'm not destined to win it. Who knows? I'll keep trying.' Skelton, who has trained 175 winners and earned more than £3.3 million in prize-money, has more chances to increase his lead on Friday before the weekend. He said: 'I set out at the start of the season to win as close to £3.4m as we can. If we can do that it means even Willie's got to raise his game. We have done that and he has raised his game so you can only say 'Well done'."
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Willie Mullins vs Dan Skelton battle forces changes to ITV's season finale schedule
The start time of the final jumps meeting of the season at Sandown on Saturday has been brought forward and the running order changed so fans can follow the climax to the British trainers' championship The gripping battle between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton for the British jumps trainers' championship has forced a change to the time schedule and running order for Saturday's showpiece meeting at Sandown. With the prize-money gap ebbing and flowing with every race, the contest will go down to the wire this weekend at the bet365 Jumps Finale, the last meeting of the 2024-25 season. Mullins holds both the Irish and British jumps trainers' titles, sealing his first British championship when Minella Cocooner landed the bet365 Gold Cup in an end of season spree last year, which included victories in the Grand National and Scottish Grand National. Still narrowly trailing long-time leader Skelton, chasing his first title, he has 15 horses in the feature handicap at Sandown where the two trainers have made a combined 71 entries on a card with £685,000 up for grabs. ITV was set to broadcast as much of the unfolding drama as possible but the seventh and final race on Saturday's card, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle, was due to start at 5.20pm, 20 minutes after ITV went off air. However, Sandown Park Racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority have collaborated to bring forward the first race of the day, the bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, from 1.50pm to 1.20pm and the closing race from a 5.20pm to 4.45pm start. Further changes to Saturday's running order include moving the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase from the sixth to the second race, the bet365 Oaksey Chase from the second to the third, the bet365 Celebration Chase from the third to the fifth, the bet365 Select Hurdle from the fifth to the fourth and the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase from the fourth to the sixth. ITV Racing's three and a half hour show will now cover the last six races of the season live, giving fans the chance to see the outcome of the title race. Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: 'Saturday promises to be a gripping end to the jumps season and we wanted racing fans who can't join us on the day to be able to watch all the drama unfold live on ITV Racing. 'We're incredibly grateful to the BHA, participants and the teams at Haydock Park and Leicester racecourses, who have moved races to accommodate our changes at very short notice. '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.' Richard Willoughby, ITV Racing Programme Editor, said: 'The quest for the trainers' title looks set to go down to the wire and provides us with a fantastic narrative on Jump Finale day. 'A huge thank you to Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course at Sandown Park, Jockey Club Racecourses, the BHA and RMG for reworking the order of running and for allowing us to show the six races that could prove decisive in deciding who wins this coveted prize.'
