In the race for the British Jump trainers’ championship, Willie Mullins narrowed the gap between himself and current leader Paul Nicholls to just £24,466 after a strong show on the first day of the Crabbie’s Grand National Festival.
Mullins had seven runners yesterday, five of which picked up prize money, topped by Annie Power’s £113,072 for winning the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle and Apple’s Jade’s £56,436 for her Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle triumph. Nicholls had five runners, none of whom won, but all of whom collected lower-place prize money. Nicholls also had four runners at Taunton, two of whom won, and the other two were placed.
Today (Friday, April 8), Mullins has 16 runners, and at least one in all of Aintree’s seven races. His best chance is Vautour, odds-on favourite at 1/4 for the JLT Melling Chase. Nicholls has seven horses running across five races at the track.
Mullins is bidding to become the first Irish-based trainer to win the British Champion Jump Trainer title since Vincent O’Brien in 1952/53 and 1953/54. In both years, O’Brien won the Grand National (Early Mist 1953, Royal Tan 1954).
Nicholls’ 2012 Crabbie’s Grand National victory with Neptune Collonges sealed the 2011/12 championship for him after a fierce battle with Nicky Henderson throughout the season.
Mullins has 10 runners on Crabbie’s Grand National Day, while Nicholls has 12.
Willie Mullins is the 1/4 favourite with Betfred to take the trainers’ championship. Paul Nicholls is 11/4 to retain the title for the 10th time. Mullins is on course to win an 11th Irish trainers’ championship.