Irish Runners In Britain on Saturday It's the finale of the British jumps season on Saturday, with the traditional farewell meeting at Sandown Park headlined by the bet365 Celebration Chase, the final Grade 1 of the season. That prize may not be for export, as Jonbon bids to retain his crown, but lots more prize money is on offer and Willie Mullins is armed and ready as he attempts to overhaul Dan Skelton and retain the trainers' championship he won a year ago. Mullins is firing a vast array of talent at the Sandown programme and is odds-on to cruise past Skelton in the final furlong. Here's a look at some of the contenders for the Closutton supremo. Irish Runners at Sandown Gaelic Warrior - bet365 Oaksey Chase - Sandown 14:25 Energumene - bet365 Celebration Chase - Sandown 15:35 High Class Hero - bet365 Gold Cup - Sandown 16:10 Sandown Betting Offer If you already have a Novibet account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Gaelic Warrior to lay down the gauntlet? The bet365 Oaksey Chase carries a top prize of £45,000 and victory would catapult Mullins into or very close to the championship lead. Gaelic Warrior stepped up at Aintree back at the beginning of the month, winning the Grade 1 Bowl over three miles and one furlong as he toppled Skelton's Grey Dawning into second. He drops in trip slightly now but has had a three-week break and, if he runs to the same level at Sandown in this Grade 2 contest, he will be very hard to beat. Mullins also saddles Appreciate It, Classic Getaway and Gentleman De Mee in a field of nine runners. Paul Townend takes over from Patrick Mullins on board Gaelic Warrior. Energumene facing a tough challenge The biggest pot of the afternoon at Sandown is just under £100,000 in the bet365 Celebration Chase and Mullins will be hoping either Energumene or Il Etait Temps can shoot down hot favourite Jonbon. Energumene, twice the Champion Chaser at Cheltenham in his pomp, was well beaten behind Jonbon at Ascot in the Clarence House in January and has since been pulled up in the Queen Mother in the Cotswolds, where Jonbon ran a remarkable race in the circumstances to be second behind Marine Nationale. Now 11 years young, Energumene will have to roll back the years under Townend to win this prize. Joining him is Il Etait Temps with Danny Mullins on board. He signed off last season with back-to-back Grade 1 novice wins at Aintree and Punchestown, but hasn't been spotted since. He goes well fresh and, while this is a big ask, his trainer is a genius and there's no reason to believe he's Sandown-bound just to make up numbers. Beware the unexpected Mullins winners! Mullins looking for a High Class Hero to deliver The penultimate race of the afternoon is the bet365 Gold Cup, a three-and-a-half-mile endurance test Mullins won a year ago with Minella Cocooner. He's back to defend his title now and should not be dismissed by anyone, but he's part of an incredible Mullins battalion of 10 runners in a field of 20 battling for the £99,000 top payout. It is a stunning show of strength from the trainer and all the more so for the fact that all 10 runners are representing different owners. High Class Hero is the choice of stable jockey Townend despite having only three runs over fences behind him and stamina to prove. Aintree Grand National third Grangeclare West joins Minella Cocooner, Dancing City, Lombron and Olympic Man amongst the hordes for Co Carlow descending on Sandown as the best in the business looks to secure another landmark title. Quite simply, Mullins is the only show in town. It's Willie's world and everyone else is just lucky to be in it.
