'Excited' Perth hoping for bumper crowds as next stage of engrossing title battle moves north

The British trainers' championship showdown rolls on to Perth on Wednesday, with Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton set to go "hammer and tongs" all the way to Saturday's finale at Sandown.

The battle shifts to the Scottish course when the track’s first fixture of the year takes place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the two title contenders well represented among strong fields for the action. Neither trainer had runners in Britain on Tuesday, meaning Skelton's lead remains intact at £52,777.

Mullins has five runners on the opening day at Perth – three in the Listed British EBF Gold Castle Novices’ Hurdle and two in the Listed Quilter Cheviot Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Chase – while Skelton has four runners on the card, including a representative in each of the feature races. Skelton is also well represented at Ludlow and Taunton with three runners apiece while Mullins has one at Ludlow.

Fun Fun Fun: favourite for the Listed mares' chase at Perth on WednesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A total of 14 horses have been declared for the Listed novice hurdle, with Matthew Taylor, Perth’s clerk of the course and director of racing, jubilant at the support after prize-money for the contest was boosted by £15,000 to £40,000 this year.

He said: “Last year we had 45 runners on the first day and this time it’s shot up to 84, which is a modern-day record for us. For a little racecourse to have that level of support is something we’re delighted about.

'Well done . . . when are you going home?' - Willie Mullins on the title race, his owners and why his travel plans are being impacted

“We put an extra £15,000 into the Listed novice hurdle and we’ve gone from six runners to 14, so we’re really delighted with that.”

Mullins had seven runners, and one winner, across the three days at Perth last year, and Taylor expects the ongoing clash between the reigning champion and Skelton to tempt a few more racegoers through the gate this week.

Willie Mullins is odds-on to be crowned champion trainer in Britain for the second year runningCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“The pair of them are going hammer and tongs, but we’ve also had great local support and from others further south too,” Taylor said. “We’re fortunate in where this meeting is in the calendar as it comes before the end of the season and it gives us that chance to attract bigger names – be they horses or trainers – before the summer programme kicks in. It’s why we decided to put the extra money into the Listed novice hurdle.

“We have a knowledgeable crowd and they come for the fields, so the stronger the fields the more people are drawn along. We were hoping for 1,900-2,000 on the first day but there might even be a few more than that now.”

Taylor added: “We also still offer cash purchases on the gate – cash is still king up here – and we feel that has an impact as well. We’re dead excited to be a part of it and to be on ITV on Friday as well.” 

Firm in Sandown going description but rain forecast

Sandown's stellar card on Saturday marks the conclusion of the 2024/25 jumps seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Officials at Sandown were thrilled by the entries across Saturday's card and hope the intrigue of the title clash will lead to a bigger crowd on track.

Sandown's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "The entries look great and the trainers' title battle has created that. This is the fourth one we've had after Pipe vs Nicholls [2005], Mullins vs Nicholls [2016] and then the battle in the last two years. It's brilliant and exciting and I'm sure it'll get people wanting to come to Sandown. It's a great day and it's consolidated itself as a great way to finish the jumps season.

"It looks good on paper but we'll see how the races shape up come declarations. I'm sure a few of the entries are tactical and not definite runners so I'm being realistic."

Flat racing returns to Sandown on Friday ahead of the jumps season finale and the ground is good, good to firm in places on both surfaces. The ground is being watered while there is rain in the forecast.

Cooper added: "It's been incredibly dry for the best part of two months. We had a bit of rain last Tuesday, about 8mm, but nothing since. There's been a bit of uncertainty among the forecasters as to when it'd come across us but most are aligning that we'll see something, in the region of 5-10mm of rain.

"The ground is, on everything, good, good to firm in places and watering but we'll water the jumps track far greater than the Flat course. What happens with the forecast rain on Wednesday would have an impact on that. We're not far off calling it good all over on the jumps track. Looking ahead, I'd expect we'd be looking at good ground."

Skelton and Mullins Wednesday runners

Dan Skelton

Next Left (2.18 Perth)
Royal Infantry (2.48 Perth)
Coco Mademoiselle (3.18 Perth)
Etalon (3.48 Perth)
Manala (4.40 Ludlow)
Jeffery's Cross (4.40 Ludlow)
Madajovy (5.15 Ludlow)
Jacksbar (6.00 Taunton)
Jo's Rainbow (7.00 Taunton)
Top Tier Gossip (8.00 Taunton)

Willie Mullins

More Coko (2.38 Ludlow)
Kiss Will (2.48 Perth)
Ballygunner Castle (2.48 Perth)
You Oughta Know (2.48 Perth)
Fun Fun Fun (2.48 Perth)
Paggane (2.48 Perth)

Read more:

Dan Skelton restores £50,000 lead over Willie Mullins with across-the-card four-timer 

'Well done . . . when are you going home?' - Willie Mullins on the title race, his owners and why his travel plans are being impacted 

Title rivals Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton make combined 71 entries for spectacular Sandown jumps season finale 

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