Jump Trainers’ Title Going to the Wire

  • April 16, 2025
  • Mark
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Until recently, it seemed Dan Skelton had the jumps trainers’ title sewn up. As of now, it’s sad and yet somehow exciting yet a feature of modern jumps racing that if Willie Mullins decides he wants it instead, he can simply chuck loads of darts at the board.

The title is now going to the wire, though with Mullins as heavy favourite.

How Skelton’s Lead Was Whittled Away

Before the Grand National Festival only a couple of weeks ago, Willie Mullins trailed Dan Skelton in the championship by over £1.3 million in prize money. Now, he is no better than 1/6 to retain it.

Position Trainer Wins Prize Money
1 Dan Skelton 164 £3,110,997.55
2 Willie Mullins 31 £3,102,993.49
3 Paul Nicholls 94 £2,323,978.31
4 Nicky Henderson 71 £2,120,086.63
5 Olly Murphy 127 £1,497,070.41

Mullins led in eight winners at Aintree, famously including the first three in the Grand National itself. By the time the three-day National meeting was over, Skelton’s lead was under £125,000.

Remaining bullish about his chances, Skelton then took his lead back to nearly £180,000 during last Saturday’s racing but that was short lived. Mullins landed a 1-2 in the Scottish Grand National with others also pulling in prize money on the day.

Able to throw 17 horses into action at Ayr, by the end of it all Mullins was only £1,431 behind Skelton and long-odds on to win the crown.

Mullins Still Coming on Strong

Mullins is leaving no stone unturned. He is due to send another strong team across to Plumpton for their Easter Sunday card. The track is now turning into an unlikely key destination for battle lines to be drawn.

The Closutton handler has 11 horses entered at Plumpton, seven of those in the Sussex Champion Hurdle which is worth £75,000. Notable names such as Kargese, Sir Gerhard, Absurde and others could be on show throughout the day, which is at least good for the visiting public.

Before that, Mullins runs four more at Cheltenham on Wednesday as they start their April meeting. Each of the quartet holds a strong chance.

Cheltenham Silver Trophy 2025 Betting

In the Silver Trophy Handicap Chase, he runs O’Moore Park and Classic Getaway, the former having form with Caldwell Potter. Skelton runs a duo himself in the race, Riskintheground and Harper’s Brook, the first-named having run as recently as Friday at Ayr but that is one of the things that could cause some concern regarding this battle.

Is the Trainers’ Title Battle a Good Thing?

Jumps fans are into this. It’s safe to say also that the TV people will make the most of it, while this battle also gives the bookies something else to make a market on. But there some downsides, for sure.

In the wider racing world, this means nothing. Even domestically, things have moved onto the Flat now with the Classics firmly in view.

A major part of this title battle to question is; if Skelton and Mullins can throw horses at these races now, why wouldn’t they have gone for said races anyway? The answer is because some of these horses need rest now, while for the others the races they are going for may not be right for them.

Jump racing’s reputation isn’t the best right now and as a sport, we should be doing everything we can to recover it. Hell mend either of these two trainers if the horses they are chucking into late-season races to attempt to win the title get injured now or in the near future, all because the humans wanted a prize and some bragging rights.

Hopefully, that won’t be the case. The trainers’ title result is known on April 26 when Sandown hosts the last big day of the season.