BATTLE OF THE TRAINERS
RICHARD JOHNSON was home and hosed in the jockeys’ title race weeks ago but the battle for the trainers’ title between reigning champion Paul Nicholls and Irish rival Willie Mullins could go to the last race of the day at 5.55. Nine-time champion Nicholls holds the whip hand. He leads by more than £50,000 and has 19 runners today. Mullins, trying to become the first Irish-based trainer to land the British title since Vincent O’Brien in 1954, has 10 entries. 2.20 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (£50,000) PAUL NICHOLLS Tommy Silver (10-3) WILLIE MULLINS Voix Du Reve (5-2f) Mullins could make early inroads into the deficit courtesy of Voix Du Reve. 3.00 Oaksey Chase (£50,000) NICHOLLS Saphir Du Rheu (10-1) Rocky Creek (25-1) Wonderful Charm (9-1) MULLINS Valseur Lido (10-11f) Ballycasey (14-1) Valseur Lido holds the aces but the Nicholls trio may still gain valuable funds. 3.35 Celebration Chase (£125,000) NICHOLLS Dodging Bullets (12-1) Solar Impulse (50-1) Ulck Du Lin (80-1) MULLINS Un De Sceaux (13-8) A pivotal race with Un De Sceaux second favourite to lift the £71,000 first prize. He may have to settle for runner-up money, though, with Nicholls consigned to the scraps. 4.10 bet365 Gold Cup Chase (£150,000) NICHOLLS Southfield Theatre (7-1f) Just A Par (20-1) MULLINS Sir Des Champs (20-1) Measureofmydreams (10-1) Ante-post fancy Southfield Theatre has been trained for this race and, along with last year’s winner Just A Par, looks a stronger pairing than Mullins’s Measureofmydreams and Sir Des Champs. 4.45 Select Hurdle (£50,000) NICHOLLS Ptit Zig (7-1) San Benedeto (22-1) Silsol (12-1) MULLINS Vroum Vroum Mag (8-11f) It will be a surprise if Vroum Vroum Mag doesn’t bag the £28,000 first prize. 5.20 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (£30,000) NICHOLLS As De Mee (10-1) Some Buckle (5-1) Calipto (4-1f) MULLINS No runners As De Me, Some Buckle and Calipto form a potent trio for Nicholls to reassert his challenge with Mullins unrepresented. 5.55 Handicap Hurdle (£30,000) NICHOLLS Qualando (12-1) Red Hanrahan (6-1f) Alcala (12-1) Chartbreaker (20-1) MULLINS McKinley (14-1) Burgas (16-1) Bellow Mome (7-1) With nearly half the field between them, Nicholls and Mullins could dominate the finale with Alcala narrowly fancied to emerge victorious.