Impaire Et Passe and Minella Cocooner star for rampant Mullins as he storms clear of Skelton - jumps finale as it happened

It was the closest fight for the British jumps trainers’ championship in many years between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton, with the Closutton maestro ultimately prevailing. David Carr was on hand to provide rolling updates as the action unfolded . . . 

Final score: Willie Mullins £3,325,680 - £2,990,963 Dan Skelton

• 'Genius' Willie Mullins makes history as first Irish trainer to win British championship for 70 years 

Final Mullins runner is in the money

It was not a glorious finale to the season for Willie Mullins but the new champion jumps trainer was still impossible to keep out of the money.

His Sa Majeste could never reach a threatening position in the closing bet365 Handicap Hurdle under Paul Townend but he kept on for sixth place behind impressive winner Ike Sport.

That earned £521.50 in prize money, taking his trainer's final total for 2023-24 to £3,325,680, which was £334,717 clear of Dan Skelton. 

Posted at 5.30pm

Impaire Et Passe makes the champion's day even better 

Winning the bet365 Gold Cup and sealing the championship was not enough for Willie Mullins, who had a one-three in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle.

Impaire Et Passe took the race under Paul Townend, with Sir Gerhard (Patrick Mullins) finishing third. The pair earned £54,120 between them.

They sandwiched second-placed Langer Dan, the last runner of the season for Dan Skelton. He picked up £17,096 and is now £334,195 behind his rival with Mullins having one runner left in the 5.20.

"I was hoping he'd come alive when I wanted him to and he did," Townend said of the winner to Racing TV. "He's not flashy at home but he keeps it for the track and that's where you need it most"

He added: "He [Willie Mullins] has made my career. He's a genius and a lovely man to work for. I'm a very small part of a huge operation and I'm just very lucky to be in the position I am."

Posted at 4.25pm

Racegoers in Willie Mullins masks around the winner's enclosure greet the new champion trainerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Minella Cocooner puts seal on dream day for Willie Mullins

Thirty minutes after being confirmed as Britain's champion trainer, Willie Mullins put the cherry on the top of a very sweet cake when Minella Cocooner reeled in Annual Invictus in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Annual Invictus, a 20-1 shot for father-and-son team Chris and Freddie Gordon, led for much of the way in the marathon chase and looked like he may hold on after jumping the last still in front, but Danny Mullins had other ideas and he galvanised Minella Cocooner to take the lead in the final strides and add another £95,000 to Closutton's coffers.

Nick Rockett finished third and Aime Desjy eighth to increase Mullins' prize-money haul even further and push his lead over closest rival Dan Skelton up to almost £300,000. 

Le Milos finished seventh for Skelton, with favourite and defending champion Kitty's Light only ninth for Christian Williams.

Posted at 3.50pm

El Fabiolo confirms Mullins' title win despite Jonbon defeat

It went to the fourth-last race of the season but Willie Mullins finally clinched the jump trainers' championship in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

He went into the final British Grade 1 race of 2023-24 with a £162,246 lead over Dan Skelton.

And Mullins earned £36,329 when El Fabiolo pipped Edwardstone to take second place behind old rival Jonbon.

Skelton had to settle for fifth with Nube Negra, picking up just £4,556 and leaving him £194.019 behind with just £141,219 available to him in the rest of the afternoon.

"It’s awesome," Mullins told ITV Racing. "It’s not something I’ve ever had on my mind as I didn’t think it would be possible."

Jonbon was a decisive winner of the Celebration Chase for a second consecutive yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

El Fabiolo put in an improved display after jumping errors forced Paul Townend to pull up the previously unbeaten chaser when he was favourite for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month.

But he was still not at fluent at times and couldn't to lay a glove on Jonbon, who completed a double on the day for a rejuvenated Nicky Henderson team who have put the troubles of March firmly behind them.

Updated at 3.35pm

Easy Game extends the lead

Willie Mullins extended his advantage slightly with his first runner on the decisive final day of the battle for the trainers' championship.

His Easy Game could never get competitive in the bet365 Oaksey Chase but kept on well enough under Paul Townend to take fourth place behind Nicky Henderson's impressive winner Fantastic Lady.

That earned £4,264 in prize money, putting him £162,246 ahead of Dan Skelton, who had no runner in the race.

Posted at 2.40pm

Be Aware just denied crucial winner's purse

Dan Skelton clawed back a little of Willie Mullins' advantage as the last-day battle for the trainers' championship got under way at Sandown.

His Be Aware stayed on well from off the pace in the bet365 Novices' Championship Hurdle Final to take second place behind Helnwein.

The Alan King-trained Helnwein gets the better of Dan Skelton's Be Aware in Sandown's openerCredit: Alan Crowhurst

That earned £23,650 in prize money, which left Skelton £157,982 behind the leader, with a maximum of £238,034 still available to him this afternoon.

Stablemate Goonhilly lost all chance with a mistake four out and could not contribute to the tally.

Posted at 2.00pm

Read these next:

'Genius' Willie Mullins makes history as first Irish trainer to win British championship for 70 years 

Jonbon dominates Celebration Chase to maintain perfect record at Sandown 

Danny Mullins thrilled to play 'super-sub' role as he triumphs in bet365 Gold Cup thriller on Minella Cocooner 

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