Stratford Racecourse has hosted some of the leading trainers in Jumps racing over the summer in their bid to get off to a great start in the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship. As ever, the quality on the course has been high. Here is a look at who will likely be in contention in the latest campaign, and who the biggest stars are in their respective stable.
Willie Mullins
Irishman Willie Mullins completed an impressive double last season as he won Champion Trainer titles in the UK and Ireland. The former was an amazing feat, as he had much fewer runners than his rivals.
The Irish trainer dominated the Cheltenham Festival last March and his horses are likely to be amongst the leading horse racing tips for the Championship races at the meeting. State Man will be bidding for back-to-back triumphs in the Champion Hurdle, Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior has several options over fences, while Lossiemouth remains the leading mare on either side of the Irish Sea.
Paul Nicholls
14-time Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls is bidding to match the record for the most National Hunt Trainers’ Championships this season. Should he prove successful, he will join Martin Pipe at the top of the standings with 15 titles.
Nicholls has a strong team of horses once again for the latest campaign. Bravemansgame will tackle the Lancashire Chase and King George VI Chase in the early stages of the season. The talented 3m chaser won the latter in 2022. Victory this year will ensure he becomes the first horse since Long Run in 2012 to regain their crown in the Boxing Day feature.
One of the horses that has impressed over the summer for Nicholls is Matterhorn. He has won four races over fences, including two wins at Stratford. The Ditcheat trainer will be hoping his six-year-old carries his form into the autumn and winter campaigns.
Dan Skelton
Local trainer Dan Skelton finished second in the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship last season. It was his best campaign since he left his position as Nicholls’ assistant in 2013 to go it alone. He has reason to feel robbed, having passed old boss Paul Nicholls at Aintree, only to be leapfrogged by Mullins in winning the Grand National.
Skelton leads the early standings thanks to a successful summer. No trainer has had more winners at Stratford than the Lodge Hill-based handler, and he will have a great chance of improving his tally here at the final three meetings of the year.
Skelton had three winners at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival which helped him surge up the standings. If he is to go one better this season, he will need a big week in March.
The final meeting of the 2024/25 National Hunt Trainers’ Championship takes place on Sandown on April 26th.
