Dancing City suffered a fatal fall during Saturday’s meet at Sandown. The Willie Mullins-owned horse was taking part in the 16:10 Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
It came during the final meet of the jump racing season, with the British trainers’ title between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins on the line. Heading into this month’s Grand National, English trainer Skelton led the way at the top of the championship table by over £1million in prize money.
But a late surge from Mullins, who became the first Irish trainer to win the title last year, put him back in contention with just a couple of races to go. The standout performance came at the big Aintree race, when Mullins’ owned horses recorded an unprecedented one-two-three over the line.
Mullins’ second consecutive champion trainer title was confirmed in the Gold Cup at Sandown, with second, third, fourth and fifth-placed finishes.
Sean Bowen, who rode Resplendent Grey to victory in the 16:10, won the Champion Jockey award. Reacting to his victory, he said: “That’s amazing. Honestly the best two weeks of my life. I hope it carries on forever.”
“It’s brilliant to have all the family here but I’d like to mention Olly Murphy, how someone’s kept their horses in that good a form all season. He’s got a 25 per cent strike-rate, which is unheard of really and 56 per cent of the horses he’s run have won. He’s doing something right.”
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