Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton well represented in Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup entries

The three major players in this year's British trainers' championship were well represented among the entries for Ayr's Coral Scottish Grand National and Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle on April 20.

Reigning champion Paul Nicholls has made five entries for the £200,000 Scottish National, including Grade 2 winner Threeunderthrufive and Stay Away Fay, last seen running in the Brown Advisory.

A total of 71 entries have been made for the marathon contest and Dan Skelton, who holds a narrow advantage over his old mentor in the title race, is responsible for six of them, including Le Milos.

Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins, who sits third in the British championship, has made ten entries, including We'llhavewan, who finished fifth in the Irish Grand National behind Intense Raffles.  

Kitty's Light heads the sponsor's betting for a repeat Scottish National victory at 8-1, with Kim Muir second Git Maker available at 10-1, and Anglers Crag, Beauport, Elvis Mail and Inis Oirr at 12-1.

A total of 48 entries have been made for the £100,000 Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle and two four-year-olds have been entered in Latin Verse and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Lark In The Mornin.

The entries also include last year's winner Rubaud for Nicholls and the Skelton-trained L'Eau Du Sud, who was narrowly denied when second in the County Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival. 

"Willie Mullins being so successful at Cheltenham has added an extra dimension to the title race and we could be set for an exciting end to the season," said Ayr's chief executive David Brown. "For us to get some lovely entries from Nicholls, Skelton and Mullins, as well as a number of other Irish trainers, is most welcome and we're absolutely thrilled."

Kitty's Light: winner of last year's bet365 Gold CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Depending on results at Aintree and Ayr, the title race could go down to the final week and Nicholls, Skelton and Mullins have also made a number of entries for Sandown's bet365 Gold Cup on April 27.

Nicholls, who will bid for his fifth win in the £170,000 contest, has made six entries and could be represented by Stay Away Fay, Broken Halo, Enrilo, Flash Collonges, Switch Hitter and Threeunderthrufive. 

Skelton has made eight, including Le Milos and the hat-trick-seeking Heltenham, while Mullins has made 13 entries, including 2022 National Hunt Chase winner Stattler, Minella Cocooner and Nick Rockett.

The first two home in the race last season, Kitty's Light, who followed up victory in the Coral Scottish National at Sandown, and the Seamus Mullins-trained Moroder also feature among 80 entries.

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