Latest news with #Kitzbuhel
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mullins crowned British champion trainer on incredible Jumps Finale at Sandown
Willie Mullins has been crowned champion National Hunt trainer in Britain for a second successive year. The Co Carlow handler once again denied Dan Skelton a maiden trainers' championship as he overtook him on prize money for the first time this season on the final day. The victory comes 12 months after Mullins became the first Irish-based trainer since Vincent O'Brien 70 years earlier to lift the British title. A surprise win for Il Etait Temps (9/2) under the trainer's nephew Danny Mullins over 8/15 favourite Jonbon in the bet365 Celebration Chase all but secured the trophy would be returning to Closutton. It followed an earlier success for Gaelic Warrior in the bet365 Oaksey Chase, with Appreciate It, Gentleman De Mee, Classic Getaway, Kitzbuhel and Energumene also picking up prize money in their respective races. But the championship win was confirmed after the trainer 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. Jump Allen's victory under Harry Cobden in the last race on the card, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle put the icing on the cake for Mullins, who started the day £68,482 behind Skelton, after the English trainer increased his lead between Wednesday and Thursday with four winners across the two days. The Closutton trainer sent a total of 21 runners to Sandown to do battle on Saturday, while Skelton declared nine. Despite leading the championship since it began, there was an air of inevitability that Mullins would beat him to it once again since the Carlow handler saddled the first, second, third, fifth and seventh-placed horses in the Grand National earlier this month, picking up £840,000 in the process. Sandown took the decision during the week to rearrange the races on the final day of the jumps season so the two richest contests on the day, the bet365 Celebration Chase and bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase would be run later on the card, with the first race brought forward 30 minutes. Mullins had no runners in the opening two races, with Skelton's Riskintheground the first of the pair's horses to run, finishing seventh in the Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase, the second contest of the day. Gaelic Warrior got the ball rolling for Mullins as the 5/6 favourite won the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase under Townend, with stablemate Appreciate It coming second under Sean O'Keeffe. Gentleman De Mee also picked up prize money for Mullins for finishing fourth, while Skelton's runner, Boombawn came fifth. That left the 68-year-old less than £3,000 behind in the title race and after the fourth race he was ahead for the first time as Kitzbuhel picked up £8,560 for finishing third behind Blueking D'oroux in the bet365 Select Hurdle. And he surged clear after Il Etait Temps won the Celebration Chase, beating Jonbon by five and a half lengths, with his championship victory confirmed some 35 minutes later. Mullins has been installed as the 3/1 second favourite behind Skelton to win the championship for a third time next year. Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: 'Dual UK Champion Trainer Willie Mullins has once again shown that when he wants to win something in racing, he can win it. And while he left it late, we think there's every chance he could land the treble next year, making him a 3/1 shot to retain his title for a third time. 'Dan Skelton must've felt he was home and hosed before Mullins' Grand National heroics, and we think that he's the most likely winner of next season's title at 4/7 favourite. We best not sleep on Paul Nicholls, though, and we make the fourteen-time champ 5/1 to regain his crown.'
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Punters flock to support Willie Mullins ahead of Trainers Championship showdown
Punters are flocking to Willie Mullins as he looks to earn the Champion Trainer title this weekend as he chases down Dan Skelton. It has been another memorable year for Mullins, seeing his son ride to Grand National victory and had yet another successful Cheltenham Festival. But Mullins must overcome a £57,477 deficit over Dan Skelton if he is to become the Champion Trainer for 2025 with it all coming down to Sandown this weekend. And Mullins has sent over a 21-strong fleet to England to capture the title with the trainers title. Mullins has 10 out of 20 horses running in the Bet 365 Gold Cup, including the top four favourites while Gaelic Warrior is favourite for the Oaksey Chase while punters are finding great value in a double with Kitzbuhel in the Select Hurdle at a price of 9/2. Such is the size of the fleet Mullins is sending, he has been installed as 1/7 to land the trainers title while Dan Skelton is 9/2 according to BoyleSports. Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: 'There's an air of inevitability about the Trainers' Championship as Willie Mullins unleashes an army of runners at Sandown, and of his 21 strong team, it's Gaelic Warrior and Kitzbuhel that punters think will snatch the title off Skelton on the final day of the season.' Here are a look at all the runners for both Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton. Willie Mullins runners: 5/4 Gaelic Warrior (14:25 Sandown) 11/2 Gentlemen De Mee (14:25 Sandown) 20/1 Appreciate It (14:25 Sandown) 20/1 Classic Getaway (14:25 Sandown) 6/4 Kitzbuhel (15:00 Sandown) 11/2 Enurgemene (15:35 Sandown) 13/2 Il Etait Temps (15:35 Sandown) 4/1 High Class Hero (16:10 Sandown) 6/1 Minella Cocooner (16:10 Sandown) 6/1 Dancing City (16:10 Sandown) 13/2 Grangeclare West (16:10 Sandown) 16/1 Lombron (16:10 Sandown) 16/1 O'Moore Park (16:10 Sandown) 20/1 Spanish Harlem (16:10 Sandown) 22/1 Olympic Man (16:10 Sandown) 25/1 Klarc Kent (16:10 Sandown) 28/1 Chosen Witness (16:10 Sandown) 5/1 Jump Allen (16:45 Sandown) 13/2 Bunting (16:45 Sandown) 7/1 Dr Eggman (16:45 Sandown) 18/1 King Alexander (16:45 Sandown) Dan Skelton runners: 7/2 Riskintheground (13:50 Sandown) 18/1 Boombawn (14:25 Sandown) 13/2 Take No Chances (15:00 Sandown) 16/1 Gwennie May Boy (15:00 Sandown) 25/1 Unexpected Party (15:35 Sandown) 100/1 Harper's Brook (15:35 Sandown) 12/1 Hoe Joly Smoke (16:10 Sandown) 11/2 Mostly Sunny (16:45 Sandown) 8/1 Got Grey (16:45 Sandown)
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Grand National tips: Experts' best bets and 12 horses to watch today at Aintree
The Grand National meeting reaches a thrilling climax on Saturday with the feature race due off at 4pm and last year's hero I Am Maximus bidding to defend his crown for trainer Willie Mullins. Last year's winner is among the main contenders, while Iroko, Stumptown, Hewick, Intense Raffles and Vanillier are also heavily fancied by tipsters and experts. I Am Maximus is also attempting to create history as the first runner carrying top weight to win since three-time champion Red Rum in the 1970s, while only Tiger Roll has defended the title, in 2019, since then. A maximum field of 34 horses will tackle 30 fences over four-and-a-quarter miles, with each contender looking to write themselves into racing folklore. Day 3: Saturday 5 April 1.20pm - William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle Bo Zenith – 1/2pt ew Double Powerful – 1/2pt ew It takes a leap of faith to back Bo Zenith after his seemingly modest effort in the Imperial Cup, but he was placed in a Grade 1 here at last year's meeting and a marked step up in trip and first time cheekpieces could be the catalyst to an improved display. Double Powerful continues to thrive and improve and looks the type to find further progression tackling three miles for the first time. 1.55pm - Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle Lulamba – 2pt win Fingle Bridge – 1/2pt ew Lulamba has looked a talented horse in his two UK hurdle events to date and was perhaps a little unlucky to be picked off late on by an unconsidered hurdling debutant in the Triumph Hurdle. The step up to two-and-a-half miles should be ideal and he can stamp his class on this race. There is a chance the betting markets may underestimate the ability of Fingle Bridge who has been plying his trade in minor races to date. He copes well with spring ground and could outrun his odds. 2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase Imperial Saint – 1/2pt ew This trip represents a step into the unknown for Imperial Saint, but his racing style suggests the step up is within his compass and he should appreciate the return to his favoured venue. The selection is 3-3 at Aintree and was an impressive winner when scoring here on Boxing Day by six lengths. He also boasts good ground form on his CV, courtesy of a brace of victories on Merseyside before Christmas. 3.05pm - Ivy Liverpool Hurdle Kitzbuhel – 1pt win Given the way the Willie Mullins team have performed, it seems fruitless to try and oppose Kitzbuhel who must have a huge chance here if seeing out the three miles. His handler has a glut of quality hurdlers at his disposal, so it seems significant that the Closutton think tank deems he is worth stepping up in trip here. 4.00pm - Randox Grand National Handicap Chase Perceval Legallois – 1/2pt ew Minella Cocooner – 1/2pt ew Senior Chief – 1/2pt ew Perceval Legallois is improving at the right time, and we may not have seen the best of him yet. He is fancied to complete the hat-trick and emerge best of Gavin Cromwell's strong contingent. Minella Cocooner should be on the scene granted a clear passage with the booking of Jonathan Burke a major plus, while the lightly raced Senior Chief should enjoy the ground and demands of this race. Three Card Brag boasts the considerable presence of Sean Bowen in the saddle and could play his hand late. 5.00pm - Rosconn Group Maghull Novices' Chase Kalif Du Berlais – 1pt win L'Eau Du Sud sports the first-time cheekpieces after looking to curl up a little on the run in and, with him sure to be favourite on betting sites in this field, he could be worth taking on with Kalif Du Berlais who hated the heavy ground and two-and-a-half mile trip of the G1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase last time. He will be fresher than most of this field and the Paul Nicholls team have struck on each of the first two days of the meeting. 5.35pm - Weatherbys Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Le Labo – 1pt win Storming George – 1/2pt ew Joseph O'Brien rarely sends bumper horses to the UK so it seems significant that Le Labo makes the trip, especially as he looked in need of the education at Thurles on his debut. He has already proved he likes good ground and is related to Champion Hurdle winner Binocular so boasts a classy pedigree. Storming George sprung a big surprise at Doncaster on debut and is largely unconsidered by the market on horse racing betting sites at the time of writing. It might not be wise to underestimate him though. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
CBC
07-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt wins gold in men's super-G at worlds
Marco Odermatt won the men's super-G at the alpine skiing world championships on Friday in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. The Swiss skier beat Raphael Haaser of Austria by one second. Adrian Smiseth Sejerstad of Norway was 1.15 seconds behind Odermatt in third. It is the first super-G medal from a major event for Odermatt, the three-time overall World Cup champion who is the Olympic giant slalom champion. He won the downhill and GS titles at the worlds two years ago. Jeffrey Read was the top Canadian finisher, 1.99 seconds behind Odermatt to finish in 10th place. Three of Read's Canadian teammates landed in the top 30: Riley Seger was 20th, Jack Crawford ended up 27th, and right behind was Brodie Seger in 28th. WATCH | Kitzbuhel champ Crawford says 'There's a lot more I want to accomplish in my career': Kitzbuhel champ Jack Crawford: 'There's a lot more I want to accomplish in my career' 3 days ago Duration 5:40 During a gondola ride at the world championships, CBC Sports' Devin Heroux chats with Canadian alpine skier Jack Crawford as he prepares to compete in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.
