Trainers' championship race: 10 key contests before Sandown

The final two weeks of the jumps season are set to provide plenty of drama with Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton all in real contention of landing the trainers’ championship in what promises to be a thrilling race. 

Before racing on Monday, Mullins leads the way on £2,874,693 – around £62,000 clear of Skelton and £128,000 in advance of Nicholls – as the 17-time Irish champion bids to emulate the great Vincent O’Brien 70 years on by becoming an Irish-based champion trainer in Britain. 

Mullins has won just 19 races in Britain this term – Skelton has won 111 and Nicholls 122 – but it’s the big races in which he’s pressed his advantage and he will no doubt by readying a strong squad for the bet365 Jumps Finale card at Sandown Park on Saturday week, with £675,000 up for grabs on that final fixture of the jumps season. The Coral Scottish National also headlines a £485,000 card at this Saturday.

There are plenty of other races of monetary value in the meantime though as trainers will eye opportunities up and down the country and, here, we spin you through all of the key ones before Sandown as the title race reaches its climax.

Prize money: £70,000 Track: Date: Wednesday 17 April

A traditional feature at Cheltenham’s April meeting, Nicholls has won the prize four times this century though not since 2007 and the best of Skelton’s four runners so far was a third with Romain De Senam in 2021.

Nicholls saddles while Skelton has declared both and Jet Plane, with the latter’s numerical advantage looking an asset with £15,000 up for grabs for second and £7,500 for third. This race is the most valuable domestic midweek jumps race from now until the end of the campaign.   

Prize money: £40,000 Track: Cheltenham Date: Thursday 18 April 

This will likely prove the sole British race from now until the end of the season in which Mullins has runners while Nicholls and Skelton do not, and this is a division in which the Irish champion traditionally excels to boot. Both Closutton chances here certainly look to have a class edge, with and rated upwards of 13lb and 9lb clear respectively of their rivals in this and the former ran a good race in the Boodles at Cheltenham before finishing in the places in Grade Two company at . 

Prize money: £50,000 Track: Cheltenham Date: Thursday 18 April 

Skelton has three in this valuable contest on this race day for mares - the final one of Cheltenham’s April fixture – while Nicholls has no horses running at all on this day. Skelton currently has nine entered before declarations. 

Skelton could rely on Notnowlinda, and perhaps most interestingly Elle Est Beau, who will need one to come out in order to take her chance. She’s still lightly-raced and should be open to more improvement on her second start in handicaps back down in trip.

Prize money: £50,000 Track: Ayr Date: Friday 19 April 

The highlight on day one of the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival, Skelton has six in the mix here but Nicholls might hold the advantage with Outlaw Tom, who could be set for a rematch with Skelton’s after their meeting in a valuable handicap at last month. 

Prize money: £50,000 Track: Ayr Date: Saturday 20 April

The valuable opener on Scottish Grand National day is set to feature representation from all three trainers, with impressive Aintree winner in line for a quick return for Nicholls, while the highest-rated of Skelton’s trio is the 143-rated . Fascinatingly, has entered Uncle Phil, an easy winner of the Grade Three Dan & Joan Moore Memorial at Fairyhouse last time and representing powerful owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, as well as six-time Grade One winner .

Prize money: £100,000 Track: Ayr Date: Saturday 20 April

One of the feature races from now until the end of the season, all three trainers have chances in this though Skelton looks to hold prominence through his antepost favourite L'Eau Du Sud, who followed up a fine second in the Betfair Hurdle with another in the County Hurdle last time. Willie Mullins’ is well held on that form and is the shortest-priced of four entries here for Closutton, while Nicholls could rely on Afadil and .

Prize money: £45,000 Track: Ayr Date: Saturday 20 April

Willie Mullins is well-stocked in this department and his potential four – Pink In The Park, A Penny A Hundred, and – all arrive here with Irish Graded form. Lightning Mahler looks an interesting one on handicap debut for Skelton after an 11-length success on hurdles bow last time.

Prize money: £200,000 Track: Ayr: Date: Saturday 20 April

The most valuable race from now until the end of the season, McDermott is the antepost favourite for Mullins after relishing the step-up to three miles on heavy ground at Fairyhouse last time and this further extended trip looks within his compass. He has been all the rage in the market and is set to be joined by Mr Incredible after his early departure in the Grand National last weekend in a team of quality and quantity, with six in contention for Closutton currently.

Stay Away Fay could carry top-weight for Nicholls in a race the trainer has won three times (four further runners-up) since 1997. Only 10 horses have run off his mark of 158 or higher in the race this century and only Halcon Genelardais was placed when a distant second in the 2008 renewal for Alan King. 

Skelton has less arrows to fire in what could prove a decisive contest, with 12-1 chance (declared for Cheltenham earlier in the week) and 25-1 poke in the mix currently.

Prize money: £32,500 Track: Perth Date: Wednesday 24 April

The highlight of day one of the Perth Festival – the track’s season opener boasts nearly £120,000 in prize money across the card – neither Nicholls nor Skelton have had a runner in the previous five reneweals though you suspect that might change this year, even if Nicholls seems to have less to draw from in the mares’ division in comparison to his title rival. 

Prize money: £30,000 Track: Perth Date: Friday 26 April 

Again, this is a race in which Nicholls and Skelton have not had a runner previously though Nicholls has saddled eight winners from 22 runners at the track, with the current champion no less than four from nine in course handicap chases (44 per cent, +£10, 1.77 A/E). Skelton also has a decent record at the track overall (31 per cent, +£1.38, 1.09 A/E) but the majority of his winners have come over hurdles (7 from 18) and the yard is 0 from 10 in course handicap chases.