24-04-2025
The seven-figure sum Willie Mullins has won in prize money as racing season nears end
Willie Mullins is on course for back-to-back British Jump Trainers' Championship titles having collected the prize for a first time last year – but he has healty competition in the money stakes as this year's finale nears.
The legendary trainer is actually trailing Dan Skelton by £57,477 (€67,322) in the standings after the latter struck an across-the-card treble at Perth and Warwick on Wednesday.
Mullins saddled just one runner at Perth compared to Skelton's 13, but the reverse is set to unfold at a key upcoming event that could decide the title late in the season. Irish horse trainer Willie Mullins. Pic: Ben Stansall / AF
He has 21 horses scheduled to run in the season finale at Sandown on Saturday, while Skelton will see out the campaign running just nine.
However, the English trainer does have a couple more chances to tack on a stronger advantage, with two more runners at Perth and two at Sandown this Friday.
The likelihood is Mullins will reclaim a lead and duly secure the title, though Skelton admitted he was relishing the competitive edge in recent weeks as he paid tribute to his staff. Willie Mullins became the first Irish based British Jump Trainers' Championship winner for the 2023/24 season and could repeat the feat this season. Pic: Steven Cargill/Sportsfile
'I think there's an air of inevitability about it unfortunately on Saturday,' he told Racing TV. 'But I've enjoyed the last three weeks immensely and if we get beat we get beat.
'I've learnt a lot about myself, my staff and my owners – they've been absolutely phenomenal.
🗣️"I think there is an air of inevitability about it."@DSkeltonRacing is philosophical going into the concluding weekend of the Trainers' Championship.@jess_stafford_ — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 24, 2025
'I knew what was coming (from Mullins on Saturday), I'm not surprised what's there and he's going to be hard to resist.
I'll go down there with a smile on my face and we won't give up.' Willie Mullins has 21 horses running on the final day of the season. Pic: David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA Wire
The figures behind the successes of the likes of Mullins and Skelton are staggering, with sizeable riches racked up thanks to their equine exploits.
Each of tis year's top ten trainers have breached the £1m (€1.17) figure, with Nigel Twiston-Davies in at number six having collected £1,368,666 (€1,603,125) so far in the 2024/25 season.
The top five features Olly Murphy at the back of the leading contingent on £1,548,655 (€1,813,885), Nicky Henderson in fourth on £2,168,475 (€2,539,858) and Paul Nicholls third having raked in £2,473,632 (€2,897,278).
That leaves Skelton and Mullins battling it out at the summit, with the Irish trainer now in second place – on a whopping £3,283,054 (€3,845,326).
Skelton's current total is £3,303,616 (€3,869,409).
