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Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Willie Mullins flexes muscles with TEN runners in championship-deciding race
Determined to hold onto the title he clinched 12 months ago, the Irishman has gone for broke with half the runners in the bet365 Gold Cup in which rival Dan Skelton has just one Willie Mullins has flexed his muscles in the British jumps trainers' championship-deciding race by declaring TEN horses for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday. In a show of intent that he will not hand over the crown he claimed 12 months ago for the first time lightly, he has half the 20-runner field for the £175,000 showpiece. Skelton, who still leads race for a title he has yet to win by £24,561, has just one runner and that horse Holy Joe Smoke has to run from 10lb out of the handicap because Mullins declared top weight Grangeclare West. Mullins sealed last season's 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 year he put himself right on Skelton's heels when pulling off an unprecedented 1-2-3 in the Grand National and followed Aintree success with another victory in the Scottish Grand National. His ten bet365 Gold Cup team again includes Minella Cocooner, alongside Grangeclare West, Dancing City, High Class Hero, Lombron, Olympic Man, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Chosen Witness and Klarc Kent. He has declared four in the Oaksey Chase, in which Skelton has one, one in the Select Hurdle, in which Skelton has two runners. The rivals have two horses each in the £175,000 Celebration Chase while in the last Mullins has declared four against Skelton's two at a meeting where £685,000 up for grabs. The contest has proved so gripping that 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. Skelton has Thursday and Friday to reassert his lead over Mullins before the weekend and says he is feeling relaxed. Speaking to Ladbrokes, he said: 'I'm feeling good about the race for the trainers' title. It's going to be what it will be and it's going to be hard to stop Willie Mullins on Saturday because he's got so many big-name horses. 'It's going to be very, very hard - we need all the other to run well for us too.'
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins enters simply staggering number of superstars for Sandown showdown with Dan Skelton
WILLIE MULLINS has entered a simply staggering number of superstars for his Sandown showdown with Dan Skelton. The legendary Irish trainer is going all out in his bid to land a second straight British jumps trainer title. Advertisement 1 Willie Mullins will be going all out in his bid to land a second straight British jumps trainer title at Dan Skelton's expense Credit: Sportsfile Skelton, who has never won the crown before and was pipped by Mullins last season, is just £27,878.44 ahead in the standings. But Mullins has entered a massive 38 runners for the seven-race card, the highlight of which is the bet365 Gold Cup, worth a shade under £100,000 to the winner. He won it last year with Minella Cocooner and he is entered again, along with current 6-1 High Class Hero. Advertisement While multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing City - who is being backed into 8-1 - and Scottish Grand National winner Captain Cody complete the top three in the betting. The classy Impaire Et Passe is a 16-1 chance too in a race where Mullins could also have Grangeclare West, Quai De Bourbon, Lombron, Olympic Man, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Paggane, Chosen Witness, A Penny A Hundred, Judicieuse Allen and Klarc Kent. The big names and where they could run 2.25pm Oaksey Chase (2m7f) Gaelic Warrior, El Fabiolo, Il Etait Temps 3.00pm Celebration Chase (2m) Energumene, Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps, Impaire Et Passe 3.35pm bet365 Gold Cup (3m5f) Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner, Dancing City 4.10pm bet365 Select Hurdle (2m5f) El Fabiolo, Lossiemouth The Galacticos don't stop there. In the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase Mullins has put Appreciate It, Blue Lord, Classic Getaway, El Fabiolo, Gaelic Warrior and Gentleman De Mee in the mix. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing While Il Etait Temps could make his return after almost a year off after being entered too. Jonbon has made the Celebration Chase his own for trainer Nicky Henderson - whose No1 jockey But Mullins is looking to take him on with the likes of the doubly-entered Gaelic Warrior, Energumene, Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe. El Fabiolo is an intriguing entry in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle, where Mullins could also be represented by Jade De Grugy, Kitzbuhel and… Lossiemouth. Advertisement Rich Ricci's monstrous mare could be racing against her namesake, with Polly Gundry's ten-year-old gelding Lossiemouth also entered. The potential runners don't stop there, either, with Mullins throwing the kitchen sink at the final two races. You won't find Mullins have too many winners in Class 2 handicap chases but he has entered Chosen Witness, Lombron, O'Moore Park and Paggane in the 4.45. While the final race on the card, which could decide the whole title race, is set to feature the likes of Bunting, Dr Eggman, Jump Allen and King Alexander. Advertisement Mullins isn't one prone to exaggeration and quizzed on his colossal number of entries, he quipped: "Is that all?" Bookies make Mullins 2-11 to win a second title in a row with Skelton out to 7-2. Coral's David Stevens said: "Although Dan outscored Willie in prize money terms at Plumpton, the latter got a winner on the board in the finale at the Sussex track, and more importantly, has made a host of top class entries for Sandown next Saturday, a day that is sure to be crucial in deciding the outcome of this title race." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Willie Mullins enters simply staggering number of superstars for Sandown showdown with Dan Skelton
WILLIE MULLINS has entered a simply staggering number of superstars for his Sandown showdown with Dan Skelton. The legendary Irish trainer is going all out in his bid to land a second straight British jumps trainer title. 1 Skelton, who has never won the crown before and was pipped by Mullins last season, is just £27,878.44 ahead in the standings. But Mullins will be looking to turn that around and then some at the blockbuster jumps finale. Mullins has entered a massive 38 runners for the seven-race card, the highlight of which is the bet365 Gold Cup, worth a shade under £100,000 to the winner. He won it last year with Minella Cocooner and he is entered again, along with current 6-1 High Class Hero. While multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing City - who is being backed into 8-1 - and Scottish Grand National winner Captain Cody complete the top three in the betting. The classy Impaire Et Passe is a 16-1 chance too in a race where Mullins could also have Grangeclare West, Quai De Bourbon, Lombron, Olympic Man, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Paggane, Chosen Witness, A Penny A Hundred, Judicieuse Allen and Klarc Kent. The Galacticos don't stop there. In the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase Mullins has put Appreciate It, Blue Lord, Classic Getaway, El Fabiolo, Gaelic Warrior and Gentleman De Mee in the mix. While Il Etait Temps could make his return after almost a year off after being entered too. Jonbon has made the Celebration Chase his own for trainer Nicky Henderson - whose No1 jockey Nico de Boinville was in hospital on Easter Monday after a dreadful fall at Plumpton. But Mullins is looking to take him on with the likes of the doubly-entered Gaelic Warrior, Energumene, Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe. El Fabiolo is an intriguing entry in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle, where Mullins could also be represented by Jade De Grugy, Kitzbuhel and… Lossiemouth. Rich Ricci's monstrous mare could be racing against her namesake, with Polly Gundry's ten-year-old gelding Lossiemouth also entered. The potential runners don't stop there, either, with Mullins throwing the kitchen sink at the final two races. You won't find Mullins have too many winners in Class 2 handicap chases but he has entered Chosen Witness, Lombron, O'Moore Park and Paggane in the 4.45. While the final race on the card, which could decide the whole title race, is set to feature the likes of Bunting, Dr Eggman, Jump Allen and King Alexander. Mullins isn't one prone to exaggeration and quizzed on his colossal number of entries, he quipped: "Is that all?" Bookies make Mullins 2-11 to win a second title in a row with Skelton out to 7-2. Coral's David Stevens said: "Although Dan outscored Willie in prize money terms at Plumpton, the latter got a winner on the board in the finale at the Sussex track, and more importantly, has made a host of top class entries for Sandown next Saturday, a day that is sure to be crucial in deciding the outcome of this title race." . Remember to gamble responsibly
