Trainers' championship showdown: a race-by-race guide to Sandown's epic title conclusion between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins

The British jumps trainers' championship will be decided on the final day of the season at Sandown, with Dan Skelton hoping to hold off the strong challenge of reigning champion Willie Mullins. Here we look at their runners on the bet365 Gold Cup card and assess where the title race will be won and lost . . .

1.50 Sandown

Prize-money breakdown

1st £20,812
2nd £9,568
3rd £4,784
4th £2,392
5th £1,196
6th £596

Willie Mullins runners

None

Dan Skelton runner

Riskintheground

Where the prize-money might go

Riskintheground is a spring horse who arrives in career-best form. He looks to have a great chance to get Skelton off to a flyer, and it's hard to see him not finishing in the money.

2.25 Sandown

Prize-money breakdown

1st £45,560
2nd £17,096
3rd £8,560
4th £4,264
5th £2,144
6th £1,072

Willie Mullins runners

Appreciate It, Classic Getaway, Gaelic Warrior, Gentleman De Mee

Dan Skelton runner

Boombawn

Where the prize-money might go

The might of Mullins is perfectly illustrated in this race. Hot favourite Gaelic Warrior will be hard to beat, and Skelton will be hoping his old boss Paul Nicholls can help him out by toppling the market leader with Pic D'Orhy. This could be a key race in determining the destination of the title. Boombawn will struggle to get competitive.

3.00 Sandown

Prize-money breakdown

1st £45,560
2nd £17,096
3rd £8,560
4th £4,264
5th £2,144
6th £1,072

Willie Mullins runner

Kitzbuhel

Dan Skelton runners

Gwennie May Boy, Take No Chances

Where the prize-money might go

Kitzbuhel has a strong favourite's chance. Once again, Skelton may need the intervention of Nicholls to keep Mullins out of the winner's enclosure as Blueking D'Oroux has a better chance than his odds imply.

3.35 Sandown

Prize-money breakdown

1st £99,662
2nd £37,397
3rd £18,725
4th £9,327
5th £4,690
6th £2,345

Willie Mullins runners

Energumene, Il Etait Temps

Dan Skelton runners

Harper's Brook, Unexpected Party

Where the prize-money might go

Unless Jonbon spectacularly underperforms, which seems highly unlikely, it will take something special from Energumene or Il Etait Temps to seize the near £100,000 for winning this Grade 1. Energumene was the subject of support on Friday, but surely needs softer ground to be seen to best advantage. The Skelton duo have little chance.

4.10 Sandown

Prize-money breakdown

1st £98,472
2nd £37,100
3rd £18,567
4th £9,275
5th £4,655
6th £2,327
7th £1,155
8th £595

Willie Mullins runners

Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner, Dancing City, High Class Hero, Lombron, Olympic Man, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Chosen Witness, Klarc Kent

Dan Skelton runner

Hoe Joly Smoke

Where the prize-money might go

Hoe Joly Smoke is definitely the right type for the bet365 Gold Cup and in a normal year would have a strong chance. However, the flooding of the race with ten Mullins runners makes this a totally untypical final-day feature, and the sheer strength in depth of the Closutton team makes it hard to envisage him not having two or three in the first four. Dancing City, a high-class act with untapped potential at this sort of trip, could prove the Mullins number one, but High Class Hero has attracted considerable support ante-post.

4.45 Sandown

Prize-money breakdown

1st £18,210
2nd £8,372
3rd £4,186
4th £2,093
5th £1,046
6th £521

Willie Mullins runners

Bunting, King Alexander, Dr Eggman, Jump Allen

Dan Skelton runners

Mostly Sunny, Got Grey

Where the prize-money might go

It will be a shock if the title hasn't been decided by now, but six of the ten runners for the final race of the 2024-25 jumps season are trained by Mullins or Skelton. Don't be surprised if the Mullins-trained Bunting bounces back to form or if Skelton's Mostly Sunny manages to build on Monday's fluent Plumpton victory. He still looks well treated under a 6lb penalty.

Read more on the trainers' title race:

Tale of the season: Willie Mullins looks set to get up on the line after coming with another perfectly timed run

'We'll have to have a go. We'll see you at Ayr, Perth, and as many meetings here between now and Sandown' - the trainers' title in quotes

'I know exactly what he’s going through' - the inside track on the title contenders by those who know them best

This is not the first time the trainers' title battle has gone down to the wire - and this one is better-tempered than some