3 weeks ago
Image source, Getty Images
Willie Mullins went into nan play finale astatine Sandown pinch a lead of £173,760 complete Dan Skelton, his closest rival for nan British jump trainers' title
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport Journalist
Willie Mullins has go nan first Irishman successful 70 years to triumph nan British jump trainers' championship.
He held disconnected rivals Dan Skelton, who vanished second, and defending champion Paul Nicholls pursuing nan play finale astatine Sandown.
Mullins' 4-6 favourite El Fabiolo vanished 2nd successful nan Celebration Chase, 4 lengths down Nicky Henderson's Jonbon, but it was capable to corroborate nan title.
His stable's Minella Cocooner, ridden by nephew Danny Mullins, came successful astatine 17-2 successful nan Gold Cup Handicap Chase to headdress a awesome season.
"It's thing different," Willie Mullins told ITV. "You dream to triumph nan Irish championship. You ne'er dream of winning nan British one."
He added: "We person a tremendous unchangeable of horses astatine nan moment. Very fortunate to person them."
The Mullins unchangeable has had a fraction of nan winners of Skelton and Nicholls, but nan title is decided connected prize money and his horses person earned much than £3.2m complete nan past twelvemonth aft enjoying occurrence successful immoderate of nan season's biggest races.
The Closutton handler claimed victories successful nan Grand National and Scottish National, arsenic good arsenic nan Cheltenham Gold Cup.
His stable's starring light, Galopin Des Champs, defended nan Gold Cup to springiness nan 67-year-old a 4th victor successful nan title successful nan past six years.
Mullins became nan first trainer to triumph nan Gold Cup doubly pinch 2 different horses aft besides scoring pinch Al Boum Photo successful 2019 and 2020, and he reached a landmark 100 winners successful nan Cheltenham Festival's centenary year.
"To do it against nan likes of Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton - each guys that person bully teams, very bully trainers..." said Mullins. "It's astir apt a spot reliable connected Dan. He thumps Paul Nicholls and past maine coming up nan inside."
His first British title intends Mullins follows nan legendary Vincent O'Brien, who was nan only different Ireland-based trainer to execute nan feat, winning for a 2nd clip successful 1954.
"Awesome - to do thing nan fable of nan crippled Vincent O'Brien did 70 years agone was not thing I ever had successful my mind to do because I didn't deliberation it could beryllium done and present we are," added Mullins.
"We person had tremendous support from each our owners. Owners, staff, jockeys and a squad of horses - a awesome squad each round."
Harry Cobden was besides officially crowned champion jockey astatine Sandown aft sealing triumph complete his main rival Sean Bowen astatine Chepstow connected Friday.
