As May edges ever closer, we are officially into the dying embers of the 2024/25 National Hunt campaign. However, a few sparks remain in the jumps racing fire. This week kicks off with the richest race of the Irish NH season and ends with what promises to be a thrilling season finale at Sandown. Who will be crowned British Champion Trainer this year?
Sandwiched between the jumping bookends, we have a quality flat midweek menu – featuring not one but two domestic Derby Trials. Throw in a bit of Listed jumps action from Perth and quality fare from the Emerald Isle, and racing fans won’t be short of entertainment over the coming week.
Easter Monday: Irish Grand National
With the English and Scottish Grand Nationals over with for another year, Fairyhouse sets the stage for the next stop on the staying-chase roadshow. Having already plundered the Aintree showpiece with Nick Rockett and the Ayr event with Captain Cody, can Willie Mullins complete a spectacular springtime National hat trick? If anyone can, Willie can!
Having held a squadron of entries earlier in the week, the potential Mullins representation now numbers “just” four. Of that quartet, the market suggests High Class Hero may be the most likely to prevail.
Mullins could scarcely be in hotter form, but he is unlikely to have things all his own way in this €500,000 event. Fellow Irish powerhouses Henry De Bromhead, Gavin Cromwell, and Gordon Elliott are all represented – with the last named boasting no fewer than seven entries. With a trio of Grade 2 events featuring on the undercard, this Easter treat is a notch above your standard Monday afternoon fixture.
Tuesday 22nd April: Home of the Derby Stages Classic Trial
Following the Guineas trials from Newbury and Newmarket, those with an eye on Derby glory take their turn in the spotlight. First up, we have the Blue Riband Trial, which sees a field of regally bred sorts tackle 1m2f of the Epsom Derby course.
Considering the track at which it takes place, you might think this race would boast a good record in highlighting the Derby winner. However, the last winner to follow up in June was Blue Peter in 1939. Nevertheless, the 2025 edition has attracted several intriguing entries, including the Godolphin runner Devil’s Advocate, Ralph Beckett’s impressive Newmarket winner I Am I Said, and The Cursor, from the yard of 2024 winning trainer Andrew Balding.
Wednesday 23rd April: Mullins and Skelton Head to Perth
Those keeping pace with the neck-and-neck battle for the British Trainers Championship won’t want to miss this midweek card from Perth. Offering £40,000 and £32,5000 in prize money, the Listed class duo of the British EBF Gold Castle “National Hunt” Novices Hurdle and Fair Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase are the races in focus. Willie Mullins outnumbers Dan Skelton with five entries to two in the former event and three entries to one in the latter. Will that numerical advantage take him closer to a successful defence of his crown?
Friday 25th April: Group Race Treble from Sandown
The weekend starts early at the Esher venue of Sandown, with Friday seeing the flat leg of an outstanding flat/jumps two-day fixture. The Group 2 bet365 Mile tops the bill from a class perspective and fell to the brilliant Charyn in 2024.
The feature contest splits the Group 3 duo of the Gordon Richards Stakes and the bet365 Classic Trial. Restricted to runners aged four and older, the former event boasts the names of Brigadier Gerard, Singspiel, Crystal Ocean, and Adayar on an impressive roll of honour.
The Classic Trial boasts a better record of pinpointing Epsom hopefuls than the Blue Riband Trial earlier in the week. Troy, Shergar, and Shahrastani all won this before their Epsom success, whilst Adayar followed up a second-place finish in this race with a shock Derby triumph in 2021.
Saturday 26th April: Curtain Comes Down as Champions Are Crowned
The spotlight remains firmly focused on Sandown on Saturday afternoon, with the jumps stars muscling onto centre stage. As the final fixture of the 2024/25 National Hunt campaign, this represents the last opportunity for the trainers and jockeys to stake their claim for top honours. Sean Bowen has long since had the jockey title sewn up, but the battle for the trainer’s prize is significantly tighter.
We can’t wait to see who will be crowned at bet365 Jump Finale as Champion Trainer 2025! Will Willie Mullins take the victory for a second year running, or will Dan Skelton hold onto his winning margin and claim his first title?
Be here to find out!! pic.twitter.com/bQta9EzYCi
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) April 14, 2025
Having witnessed his £1.3 million lead over Willie Mullins dwindle to a little over £1,000, Dan Skelton is putting up an immense fight to cling onto the lead. Over £50,000 clear at the end of the Cheltenham April Meeting, Skelton has given himself a chance. However, with £685,000 up for grabs, the seven events at this fixture will be pivotal.
Mullins struck a decisive blow with Minella Cocooner in the 2024 edition of the bet365 Gold Cup and looks set to send a strong team in pursuit of the near-£100,000 first place prize money. Of the 61 runners remaining in the race, no fewer than 17 hail from the Mullins yard, with the market latching onto the claims of the classy Dancing City. Skelton has five possibles for the race, headed by Holy Joe Smoke, who boasts a perfect two from two record at Sandown. Interesting!
Star Stayer to Return at Naas
It’s not all about the jumps on Saturday afternoon. Over in Ireland, we have the Group-class double of the Vintage Crop Stakes and Salsabil Stakes. The latter contest regularly attracts a field of Oaks hopefuls, whilst the former looks set to see the return of stayer supreme Kyprios, who claimed the 2022 and 2024 editions of the race.
