- Willie Mullins has become the first Irish champion jump trainer since 1954
- His horses won £162,260 at Sandown to give him an overall total of £3,278,431
- El Fabiolo sealed the triumph before Minella Cocooner put the gloss on a big day
Willie Mullins was overcome with emotion after the latest incredible afternoon of the season confirmed him as Britain’s new Champion Jumps Trainer.
It was always going to be a mighty task for Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls to peg back the 67-year-old but they were left floundering after Mullins enjoyed two winners at Sandown, including a thrilling success of Minella Cocooner in the historic Bet365 Gold Cup.
His triumph, the first by an Irishman since Vincent O’Brien in 1954, was secured when El Fabiolo pocketed £30,413 for finishing second to Jonbon in the Celebration Chase to give him an unassailable lead. How he made sure, though, in the races that followed.
Minella Cocooner, under a power-packed ride from his nephew Danny, put the gloss on the triumph before Impaire Et Passe sauntered away with the Select Hurdle. In total, his horses won £162,260 to give him an overall total of £3,278,431.
What makes the figure so extraordinary is that at the turn of the year, Mullins’s sole success from 12 British runners was Baby Kate at Cheltenham last November. His ambition is now to emulate O’Brien, who won this crown twice. Given the firepower in his yard, it is a far from fanciful notion.
Willie Mullins was overcome with emotion after becoming the first Irish trainer to win the British Jump Trainers’ Championship since 1954
El Fabiolo came second in the Celebration Chase to seal his title triumph (pictured in the Dublin Chase in February)
‘This is just very special. This is right up there with anything I’ve achieved,’ said Mullins
‘This is just very special,’ said Mullins. ‘This is right up there with anything I’ve achieved. To win the two Championships in one season, it’s not something we even dreamed about doing until we went close a few years ago (in 2016).
‘For Danny to ride Minella Cocooner was special. He’s our super sub. He did it for us at Ayr last week in the Scottish National and he’s done it again. He got two terrific jumps over the last two fences. Vincent O’Brien was the legend of the game. To do something he did is extraordinary.’
Minella Cocooner (right) won the Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase to cap off the day
