Sandown Sat 23Apr16 Nicholls vs Mullins Title Race

I see Vautour is given an entry for Sandown


Nicholls v Mullins:

How Sandown's card could decide the title

BY KEITH MELROSE 2:50PM 18 APR 2016

WITH a massive sum of the prize money up for grabs in the jump season's final fling at Sandown on Saturday, the race for the trainers' championship is set to go down to the very last day of the campaign.

Reigning British champion trainer Paul Nicholls holds a narrow advantage of slightly over £40,000 from Willie Mullins. Both are set to throw everything at Sandown's valuable card in the hope of edging sealing the title.

Most bookies have Nicholls the slight favourite, with 10-11 (BetVictor) the best price available about him. Mullins can be backed at 5-4 with StanJames. With the entries for Sandown now available, here is how the title might be decided.

2.25 bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Total prize fund £50,000
Winners' prize £31,280

Voix Du Reve's last-flight fall in the Fred Winter when coming to challenge could prove one of the turning points of the battle, as it left Nicholls with a one-two for which he claimed just shy of £60,000.

That horse is Mullins' sole entrant in this valuable juvenile handicap. Nicholls has three: Tommy Silver, Frodon and Sunday's Wincanton winner Zubayr.

3.00 bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2)
Total prize fund £50,000
Winners' prize £28,475

Mullins has a stronger hand in this race, though it is not the most valuable on the card and most of his five entrants - Sir Des Champs, Valseur Lido, Vautour, Ballycasey and Vroum Vroum Mag - have other engagements.


Nicholls also has five entrants, led by former Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets. He also has Saphir Du Rheu, Wonderful Charm, Rocky Creek and Art Mauresque.

Philip Hobbs, whose quietly brilliant season has played out in the background of this battle, could yet have his say here with two-time winner Menorah.

3.35 bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)
Total prize fund £125,000
Winners' prize £71,187

The second most valuable prize on the card was reoponed until Tuesday morning after just nine entries were received.

4.10 bet365 Gold Cup (Grade 3)
Total prize fund £150,000
Winners' prize £84, 405

Staying chasers are so often Nicholls' trump card and in the most valuable race of the day he has arguably his strongest hand. Southfield Theatre is the ante-post favourite, while he also has last year's winner Just A Par. Pacha Du Polder, Wonderful Charm and Rocky Creek complete his quintet.

Just A Par
Just A Par: a repeat win for last year's champion could decide the title


Mullins' claims here are not so obvious. Sir Des Champs was an early casualty in the Grand National, Measureofmydreams exited in the Scottish equivalent and Pleasant Company pulled up in the four-miler at Cheltenham.

4.45 bet365 Select Hurdle (Listed)
Total prize fund £50,000
Winners' prize £28,475

The theoretical edge here belongs to Mullins, who has Shaneshill and Vroum Vroum Mag among his quartet. Nicholls has as many entries, with Ptit Zig or Silsol perhaps his strongest. It is a little surprising not to see Saphir Du Rheu given the option of returning to hurdles.

5.20 bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Total prize fund £30,000
Winners' prize £18,768

Kylemore Lough, who won a Grade 1 novice in Ireland last time, is the big name in this race for Kerry Lee. Rolly Baby could make the opposite journey to be Mullins' sole runner.

Three of Nicholls' entrants - Some Buckle, As De Mee and Calipto - have fallen a little short of lofty expectations so far this season. The other, Dormello Mo, runs at Newton Abbot on Monday.

5.55 bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Total prize fund £30,000
Winners' prize £18,768

It could all come down to this race and neither man seems to be taking any risks. Mullins has eight entrants, Nicholls seven. Expect many to be declared as the two champions try to wring every drop from this final £30,000 available for the 2015-16 season.

Used to love this day, last day of the jumps mixed with some cracking flat action

Think it's just jumps

McCoy thrilled by old rival Johnson's title joy
BY MARK SCULLY 6:15PM 18 APR 2016
SIR ANTHONY MCCOY has spoken of his delight as he prepares to present the Stobart Champion Jump Jockey prize to friend and former rival Richard Johnson at Sandown on Saturday.

While the trainers' title is set to go all the way to the wire, Johnson has long since had the jockeys' equivalent sewn up and will make it official this weekend.

Johnson has ridden 227 winners as he has marched to a first championship and McCoy paid tribute to his long-time rival, who filled the runner-up spot behind him on 16 occassions.

"I couldn't be happier with who I'm presenting the trophy to at Sandown this weekend," said McCoy, who retired last year.

"Richard is somebody who made me achieve what I achieved for so long and I think it's thoroughly deserved for his hard work and dedication over the last 20 years. I couldn't think of anybody more deserving than Richard.

"It takes a brave man to become a jockey and the credit is fully deserved and however good a jockey you think he is, he's an even better person."

A dream come true

Johnson cannot wait for Saturday and has spoken of his relief that the jockeys' title is not as tight as the trainers'.

"I'm thrilled that I'm going to be crowned champion jockey," he wrote in his Betway blog.

"I've always wanted to do it and it's great that the dream will become a reality at Sandown on Saturday.

"Thank God the jockeys' championship isn't as close as the trainers'!"

Hungry to retain the crown

Having claimed his first title, Johnson is in no mood to relinquish his crown and has already set his sights on starting the next campaign with a bang.

"I've got a busy week this week but I'm obviously really looking forward to Sandown on Saturday," he wrote. "It will be a great day.

"I've had a lot of support this season and it really couldn't have gone much better.

"One thing I can guarantee is that I'll be going all out to defend my title next term.

"It starts again at Towcester a week on Thursday. It's a bit weird going from 200-odd winners straight back to zero but I can't wait for it to kick off again."

Yes, Bob, Sandown's Saturday card is jumps only, with the Friday card (including three group races) now all flat.

By the way, Willie Mullins has entered some at Perth this week.

Steckenpferd wrote: Yes, Bob, Sandown's Saturday card is jumps only, with the Friday card (including three group races) now all flat.

By the way, Willie Mullins has entered some at Perth this week.

Finished 1st and 2nd in the 3rd Race at Perth for Mullins. £11,261 to the winner

Going down to the wire

Cracking racing today at Sandown, anyone punting?

Nicholls is currently about £54 000 in front of Mullins.

Sandown stars

The final day of the season at Sandown is brimming with riches, including the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase, and the Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup.

Both trainers are going full-bore, with Mullins sending a squadron of ten, including Vroum Vroum Mag, Valseur Lido and Un De Sceaux.

Nicholls however has nearly double the firepower of Mullins, albeit some of his runners are big prices, with 19 horses spread across the seven races.

Race-by-race guide

3.20 Race 1
Nicholls: Tommy Silver
Mullins: Voix Du Reve

3.55 Race 2
Nicholls: Rocky Creek, Saphir Du Rheu, Wonderful Charm Mullins: Ballycasey, Valseur Lido

4.35 Race 3
Nicholls: Dodging Bullets, Solar Impulse, Ulck Du Lin 
Mullins: Un De Sceaux

5.10 Race 4
Nicholls: Just A Par, Southfield Theatre
Mullins: Measureofmydreams, Sir Des Champs

5.45 Race 5
Nicholls: Ptit Zig, San Benedeto, Silsol
Mullins: Vroum Vroum Mag

6.20 Race 6
Nicholls: As De Mee, Calipto, Some Buckle

6.55 Race 7
Nicholls: Alcala, Chartbreaker, Qualando, Red Hanrahan
Mullins: Bellow Mome, Burgas, McKinley

Paul Nicholls unassailable lead now. Tenth Trainers National Hunt Title for him. BTW for those that never knew Mullins is an Ireland based trainer so it was a remarkable run for him until the Scottish National last week at Ayr.

Thanks Naresh

Incredible performance