Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton make declarations for trainers' title decider at Sandown on Saturday

Willie Mullins will send 21 runners to Sandown's season finale on Saturday in a bid to secure back-to-back British trainers' championships with Gaelic Warrior and Energumene among his formidable team.

Before racing on Thursday, Dan Skelton leads the title race by just £24,562 and he has made nine declarations for the final day of the season, including Hoe Joly Smoke, the trainer's sole runner in the bet365 Gold Cup (4.10), worth £175,000. 

The feature race has attracted 20 declarations and Mullins has left nothing to chance with ten potential runners, including leading contenders High Class Hero, Dancing City and last year's winner Minella Cocooner.

Mullins also has a strong hand in the bet365 Oaksey Chase (2.25) with Appreciate It, Classic Getaway, Gentleman De Mee and the Aintree Bowl winner Gaelic Warrior, while Boombawn is Skelton's sole runner.

Skelton has a numerical advantage in the bet365 Select Hurdle (3.00) after Mullins did not declare Cheltenham Festival winner Lossiemouth. The reigning champion will be represented by the likely favourite Kitzbuhel, with Skelton running Gwennie May Boy and Take No Chances in opposition.

Jonbon, who will be partnered by Mark Walsh in the absence of Nico de Boinville, featured among seven declarations for the bet365 Celebration Chase (3.35) and his rivals include the Mullins-trained Energumene and Il Etait Temps.

• Willie Mullins 1-12 to retain trainers' title after slashing Dan Skelton's advantage by more than half on big day at Perth 

Sandown squads for Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton

1.20 bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (£100,000)
Willie Mullins: None
Dan Skelton: None

1.50 bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (£40,000)
Mullins: None
Skelton: Riskintheground

2.25 bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2, £80,000)
Mullins: Appreciate It, Classic Getaway, Gaelic Warrior, Gentleman De Mee
Skelton: Boombawn

3.00 bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2, £80,000)
Mullins: Kitzbuhel
Skelton: Gwennie May Boy, Take No Chances

3.35 bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1, £175,000)
Mullins: Energumene, Il Etait Temps
Skelton: Harper’s Brook, Unexpected Party

4.10 bet365 Gold Cup (£175,000)
Mullins: Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner, Dancing City, High Class Hero, Lombron, Olympic Man, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Chosen Witness, Klarc Kent
Skelton: Hoe Joly Smoke

4.45 bet365 Handicap Hurdle (£35,000)
Mullins: Bunting, Dr Eggman, Jump Allen, King Alexander
Skelton: Got Grey, Mostly Sunny

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bet365 Gold Cup confirmed runners and riders

Grangeclare West Brian Hayes
Minella Cocooner Danny Mullins
Threeunderthrufive Harry Cobden
Dancing City Jonjo O'Neill Jr
High Class Hero Paul Townend
Victtorino Charlie Deutsch
Monbeg Genius Richie McLernon
Lombron Rachael Blackmore
Olympic Man Jonathan Burke
Resplendent Grey Sean Bowen
O’Moore Park Sean O'Keeffe
Goshen Niall Houlihan
Spanish Harlem Sam Twiston-Davies
Collectors Item Kevin Brogan
Chosen Witness Kevin Sexton
King’s Threshold Ben Jones
Klarc Kent Kieran Callaghan
Hoe Joly Smoke Harry Skelton
Knockanore Freddie Mitchell

bet365 Celebration Chase confirmed runners and riders

Edwardstone Tom Cannon
Energumene Paul Townend
Harper’s Brook Kielan Woods
Il Etait Temps Danny Mullins
Jonbon Mark Walsh
Master Chewy Sam Twiston-Davies
Unexpected Party Harry Skelton

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