The jumps season concludes tomorrow at Sandown and the Trainers' championship is going down to the wire. Willie Mullins is sending over a strong battalion of runners and barring upsets looks set to pip Dan Skelton to the title. There's lots of prize money on offer across the card, with a strong mixture of Graded and Handicap action. Let's dive in.
Willie Mullins holds a strong hand in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase (14:25) with Gaelic Warrior (11/8) and Gentleman De Mee (11/2). Both are arriving off the back of victories and season best performances at the Aintree festival. Gaelic Warrior relished the step up to 3 miles in the Bowl Chase, posting a THM Score of 860, the highest of all the last time out performances in the field. For comparison, Gentleman De Mee's THM Score for his Topham Chase victory was 823, so he has a little bit to find. Pic D'orhy (5/2) is capable of big performances on his day, though he hasn't yet delivered at Sandown in two previous attempts.
Fan favourite Jonbon (1/2) is looking to enhance his perfect record at Sandown and claim his sixth career Course win. Jonbon has been posting performances upwards of 880 on the THM Score scale this season; it's simply a level that the others cannot live with. Energumene (5/1) and Il Etait Temps (13/2) represent the Willie Mullins resistance, but they should only be able to scoop valuable place money if the favourite posts another stellar performance.
Dan Skelton's best chance of the day comes in the opening Novices' Handicap Chase (13:50). The hat-trick seeking Riskintheground (4/1) has been raised only 2lbs in the handicap after an impressive win at Cheltenham last time out. This will be his third run in two weeks, but the Skelton team really need him to fire, otherwise they could see the Trainer's championship slip through their fingers.