Seconds out for final round of two mighty champion trainer battles

They want it and they want it bad. Do not for a second believe otherwise.

Across Sandown and Punchestown there are four men chasing two crowns on the final day of this wonderful jumps season. Once the action is over there will be no need for fireworks. Out on the track they will have been exploding in abundance.

In Britain it is Paul Nicholls versus Nicky Henderson. In Ireland it is Willie Mullins versus Gordon Elliott. All four are exceptional trainers. All four want to spend at least the next 12 months being referred to as champion. It is one word but it means so very much. These are winner-takes-all races.

The two trainers' championship battles are numbers games, but not simply in the fact victory is determined by counting up the millions of pounds or euros won.

They are numbers games in terms of the squad sizes being sent to the races. Between them, the quartet are represented by 61 horses. At Sandown Henderson has the numerical edge over Nicholls with 16 compared to the title holder's 13. At Punchestown, Elliott has also rustled up 13 horses. Unluckily for him, Mullins has found 19. Lest there be any confusion, the charity race, boasting a €1 purse, does not count.

An encounter to celebrate

There is much in the way of quantity, and there is much in the way of quality as well.

It is Henderson who can claim to have the most talented horse competing on this finale day. For although Irish raider Special Tiara tackles Sandown's bet365 Celebration Chase having just won the Queen Mother Champion Chase, he is not the contest's headline act on figures. Nor he is the bookmakers' first choice. Judged by those barometers the horse to beat is Racing Post Arkle winner Altior, the heir apparent at Seven Barrows to Sprinter Sacre, whose 'farewell tour' – which on Tuesday took in Punchestown – will conclude at 12.45pm in Sandown's parade of stars.

On a day when two human showdowns dominate the headlines, this equine head to head should be something to savour. There are few sights more thrilling in this sport than watching top-class two-mile chasers whizzing around Sandown and soaring – hopefully – over its famous fences. Both Altior and Special Tiara have already notched Grade 1 honours at the track. Both race with a level of enthusiasm and flamboyance that makes them perfectly suited to the venue they visit once again.

Altior storms over the final fence of the Racing Post Arkle TrophyCredit: Patrick McCann

Only four horses line up in the Celebration, with Henderson also fielding last week's Ayr winner Vaniteux and ten-time champion Nicholls running San Benedeto, who by scoring at Aintree became Team Ditcheat's highest-earning horse of the season.

However, while Britain's two leading trainers have 75 per cent of the Celebration Chase field, they account for seven of the eight horses in the Select Hurdle. Henderson has four. Nicholls has three. The rest have one. Fortunately, it's a good one. It's The New One.

Mulholland doing just fine

In the £150,000 bet365 Gold Cup, Neil Mulholland has the most legging up to do with three of the 13 intended starters. Moreover, he has the three horses at the head of the betting – Doing Fine, The Druids Nephew and last year's winner The Young Master.

Also back for more is Menorah. He bagged the first three runnings of the Oaksey Chase. Under Richard Johnson, who becomes champion jockey for the second time, he tries to make it four out of four.

Nicholls needs to win much more money at Sandown than Henderson, whose first of three titles was secured 31 years ago. Mullins, who on this day last year tried unsuccessfully to dethrone Nicholls, will no doubt sympathise given he has spent the season playing constant catch up.

In Punchestown's blue corner, Gordon Elliott. In Punchestown's red corner, Willie Mullins. One will be crowned Ireland's champion trainer

Ireland's two dominant forces have ruled not only at home but in Britain. Each trained six winners at the Cheltenham Festival but Elliott still stole Mullins' crown. Now the self-made man, never seen at the sports with a tie around his neck, attempts to steal an even bigger crown, one he has been desperate to wear for so long.

For Mullins, the champ on ten occasions, this has been another hugely successful season, but it has not been easy.

Victory for Apple's would not be sweet for Mullins

In September, Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud axed him and removed 60 horses after Mullins sought to increase his training fees. Many of those horses were sent to Elliott. Punchestown's featured Grade 1 mares' hurdle may be missing Annie Power –morning sickness can be a terrible thing – but Mullins still has four of the seven runners.

Elliott has two, including Apple's Jade. Both are owned by Gigginstown. Both used to be trained by Mullins, who through winter and spring has been opposed by not only a fellow trainer but also Ireland's top owner.

This has not, of course, been a season ruled by the four championship-chasing trainers. Colin Tizzard and Jessica Harrington, each of them regularly supported by Robbie 'Puppy' Power, have won a plethora of prestigious prizes. They have chances to further boost their impressive hauls in the campaign's final furlong.

We are now well inside that final furlong. Seven days hence eyes will be fixed on Newmarket and the first of the year's Flat Classics. Champions will be made at Newmarket. Before that, champions will be made on this mouthwatering Saturday.

It is time to say goodbye to the jumpers. The horses and humans have served up another spectacular season. Savour their last hurrah as the bells for the closing round of two fierce title bouts are rung.

Punchestown card and form

Sandown card and form