Willie Mullins names strong Sandown team to close in on historic UK title

Willie Mullins will have a strong team running at Sandown on Saturday as he aims to become the first Irish winner of the UK jump trainer's title since Vincent O'Brien in 1954.

Ahead of the final day of the jumps season, Mullins is £180,000 ahead of nearest challenger Dan Skelton, after an outstanding Cheltenham festival and a Grand National win with Paul Townend and I Am Maximus.

Townend will have four rides for Mullins on Saturday, with El Fabiolo leading the charge as odds-on favourite in the Celebration Chase.

Townend will also ride Easy Game in the Oaksey Chase, before saddling Impaire Et Passe in the Select Hurdle and Gold Dancer in the Handicap Hurdle.

Mullins will have three runners in the Gold Cup Handicap Chase in the form of Minella Cocooner, Nick Rockett and Aime Desjy.

Sir Gerhard joins Impaire Et Passe in the Select Hurdle before Sa Majeste joins Gold Dancer in wrapping up Mullins' assault on the title in the Handicap Hurdle.

Gold Cup success with Galopin Des Champs and I Am Maximus’s victory in the Grand National have been the highlights of Mullins' campaign, the latter coming a week before Scottish Grand National success with Macdermott.

Should he secure the trainer's title as expected, it will be the first time since the 2004/05 season that neither Paul Nicholls or Nicky Henderson has been the champion.

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