Mullins closing ominously in on Skelton in title race

A successful raid on the Coral Scottish Grand National has left Willie Mullins trailing Dan Skelton by little over £1,400 as the title battle looks set to go right to the wire.

Skelton had looked a shoo-in for his first championship prior to Aintree, but Mullins’ extraordinary success in Liverpool saw the trophy slip from his grasp as the gap at the head of the table became dangerously slim.

On the Friday of the Ayr meeting the Skelton yard showed they would not go down without a fight, however, as a treble and over £46,000 in prize money reasserted their dominance.

Mullins had saved his key chances for Saturday, though, and saddled six in the feature.

It was Captain Cody who came to the fore under Harry Cobden, with stablemate Klarc Kent the runner-up to give Mullins a one-two as Skelton’s contenders both failed to finish.

Further placed prize money and the victory of Dysart Dolomite in the BrandingHub For Signs & Graphics Open National Hunt Flat Race aided the Mullins cause even further.

Mullins was not counting his chickens before they have hatched, however, and told Racing TV: “Dan won’t be standing still so he’ll probably win it, and if he does he’ll feel like he’s won a proper title.

“Today we were having a dreadful day until the National but then it came right which puts us right back in there.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

Paddy Power have Mullins as the 1-8 favourite to retain the title having been trimmed from 1-3, with Skelton now a 9-2 chance.