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00:00There's a lot of pressure going into a race.
00:02Everything about it gets the adrenaline going.
00:05There are so many improbables.
00:07Anything can happen.
00:09There's nerves, expectation.
00:12This is it. Who will win the trainers' championship?
00:15It's a lifetime opportunity.
00:18I'm going to turn it right up.
00:20If you could battle the adrenaline highly, yes, you'd be very, very rich.
00:31This season we're set for the most extraordinary, unpredictable drama.
00:36That is insane!
00:39Everybody is a rival.
00:41Yay!
00:43The competition is going to be hotter than ever.
00:46It is a very dangerous way to make a living.
00:51I just felt my pelvis break. Everything snapped.
00:55F***!
00:57Oh, no!
00:59To win is the dream.
01:01When you see the winning post, everything slows down.
01:05Go, Freddy!
01:16It's really special for a number of reasons.
01:23The Scottish Grand National is one of the most historic and famous races of the year.
01:29And this year, again, it's the battleground in the race to be champion trainer.
01:34Dan Skelton alongside me. This race could define the trainers' championship.
01:38Yeah, it could.
01:40There's a lot on offer. We could do with a nice slice of this.
01:43Good luck here.
01:44All right, cheers.
01:45Come on.
01:46The trainers' championship is totally based around prize money.
01:49Every race that you win, the prize money goes to your total.
01:53Not you again!
01:54I love you!
01:55We've got two weeks to go.
01:57And the Coral Scottish Grand National is one of the last big prize pots of the season.
02:02200,000.
02:03It's huge.
02:04Everywhere you go, I know.
02:05Who's going to take her, then?
02:06So there are two men left standing in the race to be champion trainer.
02:11Britain's Dan Skelton against Ireland's Willie Mullins in a head-to-head.
02:15And it's quite clearly going down to the wire.
02:17Come on, I'll get in.
02:19Competition's going to be fierce, and all we want to do is win.
02:24It's a shootout, isn't it?
02:26You have to make them count.
02:28How are you?
02:29Irishman to an Irishman.
02:30Best of luck.
02:32Willie is trying to make history.
02:35Back-to-back wins.
02:36He is hungry.
02:37Well done.
02:38Thank you very much.
02:40It's one of those rare things in sport that very few people ever achieve.
02:45It sets you apart from your peers.
02:50It's a lifetime opportunity.
02:52Dan Skelton is vying to win his first British trainers' title.
02:59I don't know what I'd feel if I won the trainers' championship,
03:03but, yeah, I'd love to know what it feels like,
03:05and I'll explain very, very happily for you what it felt like.
03:09But it's got to happen.
03:12Willie Mullins, congratulations, sir.
03:15This title race has been going to the wire the last two seasons.
03:19Last year, it was so close.
03:22Do you want to have a hanky?
03:24Woke the tears away.
03:25You know, I got beat in the championship on the last day.
03:28Aw, poor boy.
03:31That pain of failure lasts so much longer than the joy of victory.
03:35Next year.
03:38Willie actually said afterwards,
03:40you've got to lose one to win one.
03:43I hope he's right.
03:49Are we going to win it?
03:53Of course we are.
03:54See?
03:55Are we going to win it?
03:56Yes.
03:57There you go.
03:58Don't you worry about that.
03:59We believe.
04:02Dan's progress over the last decade has been incredible to watch.
04:08He's still young in terms of being a trainer,
04:11but he's absolutely in the top tier of Britain's top trainers.
04:14Just, uh, same again, Jay.
04:16Yeah.
04:22Oh, that's lovely.
04:24Bye.
04:26How's Whiskers the cat?
04:27I have a lucky black hat.
04:29Would you like to stroke Whiskers?
04:35That was another call down to someone supporting you from Cornwall,
04:38sending you Cornish luck.
04:39Thank you very much.
04:40And is Cornish luck better than other lucks?
04:42Yeah.
04:43I do like Cornwall.
04:47We enjoy the sport we're in,
04:48and we want to be successful in it.
04:51We want to lift trophies.
04:52We want to get to the top.
04:55Come on, boy.
04:57My relationship with Harry is probably unlike anybody else's in racing,
05:00because we're brothers.
05:01Harry rides more or less exclusively for me.
05:04His success is directly linked to mine,
05:07which is how we want it.
05:12We've been around horse all our life, and it's all we know.
05:15Do some jumping in, Harry.
05:17OK.
05:22Families are funny things, and the Skelton family is an extraordinary one.
05:25Yeah, good, Stace.
05:28They are a formidable team.
05:30I think of the two things we're trying to do this year,
05:33the Jockey Cup and the Trainers' Championship.
05:37If everything went to plan, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement,
05:40and it will be enough.
05:41Going into the Grand National meeting at Aitry,
05:44Dan's had his best-ever season.
05:45He's amassed over £3 million so far,
05:47and he's about £860,000 ahead of his closest rival, Paul Nicholls.
05:53Please join us in the trophy presentation for the inaugural running of the David Power Jockey's Cup.
06:10And that's left Harry Skelton heading up the David Power Jockey's Cup.
06:14It's a brand-new initiative, and it's run for six months throughout all the jumps races on ITV,
06:22where jockeys have been able to accumulate points.
06:26And so, I am delighted to welcome on the stage Harry Skelton!
06:31To win the first David Power Jockey's Cup, to my honest, it's a great honour.
06:36Harry Skelton takes home the winning prize of £500,000.
06:41I don't know what Harry would do with the money.
06:46I mean, I could give a bit to his brother.
06:49That'd be a nice thing to do, wouldn't it?
06:52I'm going to blow the lot, to be honest.
06:55Nah, I'm only joking.
06:57Let's remind ourselves of some of the high-profile wins Harry has secured this season.
07:03This time Harry Skelton has not blinked.
07:06Cheeky enough here.
07:08Fortun Demare gets revenge.
07:11Throughout the season, it's Harry's Jockey Cup total racked up.
07:14But Lodersu, driven clear, is going to complete doubles for Harry and Dan Skelton.
07:19So, too, to Dan's trainers' championship prize pot.
07:22And he'll win the Betfair heavy of the eighth.
07:23Obviously, Steve will chase Lodersu.
07:25Probably had more runners than we've ever had.
07:27More prize many than we've ever had.
07:28And we've got a good jump on the others.
07:30The new line, Harry Skelton, who's getting up!
07:32The new line has won the turners!
07:36The Skelton's been in really good form all season.
07:39He's flying along at the moment.
07:40I think it'll be very hard to beat this year.
07:43The double is seriously real. It's on.
07:47Winning the Jockey Cup won't sort of mean Harry rests on his laurels.
07:52He is relentless.
07:53We're in a great position to be vying for trainers' championship.
07:58That's the one we're missing.
07:59We're gunning for the double.
08:03Hang on.
08:04Two seconds.
08:05One second.
08:07Go on.
08:09They're away first time.
08:11But a few hours after the presentation,
08:14the most lucrative jump race of the season is on.
08:18And Dan is in the stands without a runner.
08:20And now the conclusion of the Grand National.
08:24Five of Willy's horses are in a line.
08:28Somebody, please, from somewhere, can we have a miracle?
08:33The moment they crossed the line, I thought,
08:36oh, fuck.
08:38Willy Mullins has had five of the first seven.
08:41Keeps him with a chance of being champion trainer.
08:44For Willy Mullins to accumulate over £860,000 in one jumps race,
08:52I don't think it'll ever be matched.
08:56Going into the air, Dan is only around £140,000 ahead of Willy.
09:03We've got three weeks left of the season.
09:05It's going to be an absolutely incredible finale.
09:08Dan Skelton must feel that Willy's just driven a bulldozer
09:12to the house that he's been building all his life
09:14and knocked it down.
09:16It's going to be a lot tougher than people think,
09:19but, you know, Dan is not laying down and taking this to sleep.
09:23He's going to bring out everything he has.
09:24Everything he has.
09:40Air is a huge moment.
09:43It's going to be crucial in the trainers' championship.
09:46Big prize money there.
09:48Counting to transmission in 15.
09:50Dan Skelton is still in front,
09:51but he can feel the breath of Willy Mullins on his neck.
09:54Out cue in five.
09:56Willy Mullins dispatching his riders.
09:58This is absolutely his aim to win the title again.
10:00Outing two.
10:02One.
10:04Sarah.
10:06And there is £112,000 to the winner of the Coral Scottish National.
10:08It means there is all to play for in the trainers' championship
10:11and the man currently leading the way is our special guest this morning,
10:14Dan Skelton.
10:16I have to say the Grand National did take the jam out of my doughnut,
10:18if I'm honest with you.
10:19But that's the standard that he sets.
10:20That's the bar we've got to come up to,
10:22and we are not going to go down without a fight.
10:24My team, they fully believe this can and will happen.
10:27I'm sure.
10:29To win the Scottish National would be very helpful.
10:32Big prize money on offer.
10:34Been second in it before.
10:36But I want to win it.
10:38It's a huge day, but it's a free shot.
10:40I mean, to be in a position we're in is a bit of a joker card anyway.
10:43So it's not like it has to happen, but it'd be great for it to happen.
10:48It's huge money, huge prestige, and it's a meeting and a race that can turn the tide.
10:53We know what we're taking on. We took him on last year. We're still in with a chance, and we'll still fight to the very end.
11:05Tough ask for him, yeah. If Olympic man jumps well enough, he has a good chance, yeah.
11:09What's your best of the five? Six, sorry.
11:14Tell me Spanish Harlem. Come on, tell me.
11:16I love Spanish Harlem, yeah. I was hoping the ground would be a bit drier, but can't have everything right, you know.
11:21The best outcome is us being first and second.
11:24The worst outcome is Willie filling the first six, which after last week in the Grand National, you know, isn't impossible for him.
11:31So, yeah, we'll just see how we get on. I'm happy with my horses. Hopefully they can do us proud.
11:35Six horses for Willie Mullins. He's got a seriously strong hand. He's going all out to win it again.
11:45Blue Brazil, are you doing one or two?
11:48Two, Lou, me. Yes, what stable was she in last night?
11:52She was in the first on the left.
11:55The Bruce Trainers Championship means a lot, especially when you're based in Ireland.
11:59You know, it's quite unique. Form-wise, we're probably a little ahead, but form doesn't give you the winning trophy.
12:05You know, it just depends whose horses fire on the day and how things go.
12:11Do you get nervous?
12:13No, not nervous, no. You're just, you know, I suppose it's just the ambition in one. You know, Dan has a huge ambition.
12:24I have as well. And people, when you get to that end of any sport, you like to win. You like to give it your best shot.
12:32For Willie and the whole family, the whole yard, to win the UK Trainers Championship again would be unbelievable. That's going into the history box.
12:43To win it again, it just would show that maybe it wasn't a fluke the first time.
12:51Whew. Don't want to lose this. Good team of horses now going to air, so...
12:57We'll keep our fingers crossed. Keep our fingers crossed, yeah.
13:02The thing that makes the conclusion to the Trainers Championship so fascinating is Willie's desire to hold on to the trophy.
13:08It's a nice cookie jar for the year, isn't it?
13:11He wants to basically keep the trophy, not just for the sweets, but just because that's been his ambition.
13:16We'll have to see how the gods line up. We thought we were lucky last year, so maybe we'll be lucky again this year.
13:24Fingers crossed.
13:26You know, this is unique. The opportunity is there.
13:30And if the ball bounces right, it could happen again.
13:34This game on, we're coming after Dan.
13:36So much will be decided at 3.35 in the Coral Scottish National.
13:51I prefer the Scottish National or the English National?
13:54Scottish, mate. I won it twice.
13:56Have you ever won it?
13:57What?
13:58The Scottish National.
14:00Oh, yeah. Well done.
14:01As they run to the second-last, McDermott and Danny Mullins.
14:09Last year winning on McDermott kept me an unbelievable buzz.
14:13As they head down towards the last in the Scottish National, it is McDermott who's moved through the lead for Willie Mullins.
14:19Go, Danny!
14:24When it was all in the balance at the last jump, Danny just rolled the dice and went all in.
14:28Go, Danny!
14:31Coming up towards the line, McDermott and Surrey Quest in a photo.
14:35That is so, so close.
14:38Is this the photo that decides the trainers' championship?
14:41First, number 11, McDermott.
14:44Riding that winner for Willie when he really needed it, that was something extra special.
14:52Can I get a very quick...
14:53I want to see my men.
14:54When Danny won in a photo finish last year, it was huge.
14:58That's one photograph I'll be taking home, I think.
15:01That secured the championship for him. It was the tightest of finishes.
15:05Preventing Dan from securing his first ever championship.
15:12Next comes the big one, though. Scotland's most famous race.
15:15Will lightning strike twice?
15:21Sail away. Sail away, you've won here before.
15:26Very good. Do it again.
15:28Yeah, our chance is in the Scottish National Sail away.
15:32Harry's riding him. Harry, my brother.
15:33That day you won over three miles.
15:36You've got an extra mile today.
15:38And I think, given your age, you're ready for it.
15:41Don't let anyone tell you you're not.
15:43Rockies must call five minutes.
15:46Whether he can see out the longer distance, we'll see.
15:49If we can pick up some valuable prize money, I think we'd be happy.
15:53But Willie will also be there with his team as well.
15:55We've got two runners in the race. We also run Snipe.
15:59Snipe's ridden by one of our younger jockeys, Harry Atkins.
16:04He ran all right last time as well. That could help.
16:07Right, young Harry. Good.
16:09This is your moment to shine.
16:11All right.
16:13To have a ride on a horse with a good chance in the race,
16:16it's unbelievable. It's a big race.
16:19Everyone's watching.
16:20If you're going to get there, get there late.
16:22OK? You know what you're doing.
16:23I look young. I'm only 20, but I've been riding in races since I was 16.
16:28And to add the Scottish National to my CV would be unbelievable.
16:32Just second line and then find yourself a bit of space.
16:35You know what you're doing. Perfect.
16:36All right? Dan and Harry, you can see how much it means to them.
16:40You just want to do the best and get the prize money as much as you can.
16:44I bet you're going to line up.
16:46Second road down the middle somewhere.
16:48Best of luck. Best of luck.
16:50Good luck, guys. Good luck, Uncle Harry.
16:53Thank you very much.
16:55I'm going to find my owners.
16:57Willie has got a lot of runners and he's got a lot of good horses with a lot of good chances.
17:01But you've just got to try and get them all beaten.
17:04You are the man that potentially holds the aces in this race alongside me, Willie Mullins.
17:09You have six in it.
17:10You know, as you said, we have six shots and they all have chances.
17:14Let's go down number four.
17:15Can we just show you this? You've highlighted the horses you've got.
17:19That's basically it. Throw as much at it as we can.
17:22Just could get very tight and I think every shilling is going to count.
17:24Good luck. Thank you very much, Uncle Harry.
17:26Cheers.
17:28Willie can't miss from here home.
17:30He's running out of time, but there's big prize money there.
17:33Best of luck. Thanks.
17:35Unfortunately, I've picked up an injury. I'm going to miss air, but I won't miss a second of it on the TV.
17:41The fact that Paul Townend is out injured. This is like a Premier League manager losing his centre forward.
17:48It's like Mo Salah being out for Liverpool. It's a huge blow for Willie.
17:51So, another one of the six for Willie Mullins here. Captain Cody.
17:55We don't often see Harry Cobden riding for Willie. In fact, it's his second for the Maestro.
18:01Replacing Paul Townend is a thankless task, but Willie looks outside the box and he goes for Harry Cobden, England's champion jockey.
18:11And there's no better substitute.
18:14It's an honour to ride for Willie Mullins, isn't it? I'm more than happy to step up and give him a hand.
18:19If I haven't got a runner in the race, Harry's free to ride whatever, and you get offered the chance to ride one for Willie Mullins, you can ride it.
18:26I followed him in Cheltenham. Did you rake, yeah?
18:29And I thought he over-travelled for a little bit of the way.
18:31Yeah, but if you're worried about that, just get him settled in somewhere.
18:34Yeah, ride into a half-round well and he might nick the lot.
18:37If you can, Dan Skelton probably won't talk to you for a while.
18:41Don't worry about that.
18:42You'll put on with that, yeah. Best of luck.
18:44If I met Harry Cobden on traitors, I'd just, I'd say to the whole room, look, we don't even need to think about this, he's got to go.
18:50Danny, all right of you, your plan, plan A?
18:52Yeah.
18:53I'd imagine handing away a bit of lice.
18:55He was worried whether the ground had been too soft for him, were you?
18:57Willie Mullins has got together a pretty ace team of jockeys.
18:59We've got Danny Mullins, who we know does particularly well for his uncle.
19:04Johnny Burke, who rode for him, of course, in the Grand National.
19:07And he's got his son, Patrick, riding for him.
19:10We're keeping him jumping, isn't it?
19:12Ruby just says, don't move. Don't move.
19:14Just let him do the job.
19:16That'll do me.
19:18Olympic man.
19:19I think this is the pick of the Mullins horses.
19:22Got Patrick on board.
19:24Can he add a Scottish national to that hugely emotional English Grand National victory?
19:34I desperately want to win, I desperately want to beat him.
19:37The only thing is he can swamp it.
19:39We're going to need everything to go our way here.
19:44Danny!
19:45Whoa, pull it up!
19:46Ah, you bastard!
19:48No, no, no, get out, get out, get out!
19:50On these big days, I'm ready for it, but I like to remain chilled.
19:55I think Harry Skelton brings a bit more energy to the likes of these days.
20:00Pull it up, pull it up, pull it up, pull it up!
20:02There's an awful lot of money on offer here, over 100k to the winner.
20:06This is important, this is a big one.
20:08We're heading literally down the final stretch now in the trainers' championship.
20:13Going into the Scottish Grand National, there's around 170,000 between them.
20:19This race matters.
20:23We go and find a place to watch it.
20:26We love to run these box.
20:27These big meetings, like air, you're under pressure, but with the trainers' championship there is an extra pressure.
20:36No, that lift could take forever.
20:38What are we doing?
20:40The start for me in the Scottish Grand National is quite tense.
20:44When Willy's got that number of horses in the race, if Dan's going with two, it's like going to war, six against two.
20:50Now, they move forward and hopefully we'll get away first time.
20:55Are we going this time? We are, yeah?
20:57The big days are the ones that really matter.
21:00It's hard to get a ride in those races, let alone win.
21:03There's nothing like it.
21:05Steady, steady, steady!
21:07Steady!
21:13No.
21:15Where's Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie's box?
21:17Are we on the wrong floor?
21:19The nerves are unreal because you think to yourself, you know, what happens if you win?
21:24Let it!
21:26Are we in here? We are.
21:29They must be off.
21:30Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
21:34He's let them go for the Scottish Grand National of 2025.
21:42If you don't win, we are proper Donald Ducked.
21:46Four miles ahead of them.
21:48They have 27 fencers to jump.
21:52We have six runners.
21:54They're all horses, I think, are capable of winning prize money, and it would be brilliant if one of them could win.
21:59There's a lot of pace on down to the first.
22:02Sailaways, one round the track before.
22:04So, all being well, we've got a chance.
22:11Oh!
22:13Fuck!
22:15Harry, gone.
22:17Fuck.
22:19You all right?
22:21On the floor, at the first, chance gone.
22:25You all right, boy?
22:27Yeah.
22:28Surrey Quest and Kevin Brogan make a mistake.
22:31I just cannon straight into his back end.
22:33That's racing, I suppose.
22:36Oh, that's all over it.
22:38Got one more dart in there.
22:39Harry Atkinson.
22:40Harry Atkinson's Snipe.
22:4150% of our chance of winning a Scottish Grand National is gone after one jump.
22:52I saw Harry Skelton fall at first.
22:55Better him than me, isn't it?
22:56So, a blow for Dan Skelton.
23:00Harry's mount is out of the race, but Dan's still got one shot left.
23:04And Snipe's still in with a chance.
23:07It's all going okay so far for Snipe.
23:09No real dramas from him so far.
23:12He's got to have a chance, hasn't he?
23:14Spanish Harlem on the outside is in fifth, followed by Snipe.
23:18We're jumping very well.
23:20Pray for a winner, but you've got to keep your head straight and go with a level head,
23:24especially a time where you need the prize money.
23:27On now towards the second of the open ditches.
23:31And down is Snipe.
23:33Oh, God.
23:34Snipe has come down, he may well have brought down Astings.
23:38That didn't look very good, that.
23:40Snipe, gone.
23:42Out.
23:45After his fall, the horse Snipe looks to be okay,
23:48but jockey Harry Atkins appears to have been badly hurt.
23:52I don't like this at all.
23:54I'm really worried for Harry.
23:56I'm not sure this young Harry is very good.
23:57I'm not sure this young Harry is very good.
24:11Here at air in the Scottish Grand National, Dan Skelton's chances in this race are over.
24:16We'll just go down there.
24:18Both jockeys have been unseated.
24:21You almost know you're coming down.
24:23I hit the floor.
24:31Oh, God.
24:33I had a bit of a nasty bang to the head.
24:34I can't remember a lot, but I was knocked out.
24:44I had a few grazes.
24:47My cheek was a bit swollen, but I got up and walked off to the ambulance.
24:54Young Harry was definitely concussed, but luckily everything else was okay.
25:01Kind of does make your heart sink really, because we've gone from having two chances to none.
25:06And up now towards what will be the final fence in two more circuits time.
25:15We've done out of the race.
25:17Olympic man has got the lead, going very well, and he's got into a good rhythm.
25:21It's now all about how well Willy's horses do.
25:25So we've got six horses in the race, which is a lot.
25:28It obviously gives us a better chance.
25:30We want to win.
25:32And it is Olympic man who leads the Scottish national field.
25:35I see Patrick in front, an Olympic man, so I'm worried as a father would Patrick be able to stick on him.
25:41Then I'm trying to pick out my horses, the different colours, hope they don't fall.
25:45Hope that they don't make a bad mistake and put them out of the race.
25:49It's a ferocious pace.
25:52But he's jumping very well.
25:55You probably think that lightning can't strike twice, but if you're not in, you can't win.
26:00So we'll roll the dice and might get two sixes.
26:05Another one towards the rear and quite wide is Captain Cody.
26:09I'm happy where I am.
26:11It's all very well flying out in front and having your moment on the first lap and a half.
26:16First lap and a half is important.
26:18It's Olympic man and Patrick Mullins who has the lead.
26:22They've gone well through halfway.
26:26The last half mile is the most important in that race.
26:30And that is when most of them are going backwards.
26:35It's Olympic man who took that fence with him.
26:38He almost banked that, made a bad mistake.
26:41We're going out in the last lap and he just starts to lose his concentration.
26:45He starts to get a little bit tired.
26:47He makes a couple mistakes.
26:49Olympic man again, made a bad mistake.
26:52We lose momentum.
26:54I'm thinking, I'm beating.
26:55So they're going now for the last two fencers in the back.
27:02Clark Kent on the inside.
27:05Clark Kent is with Johnny Burke.
27:08Jumping well, galloping well.
27:12Things have gone really well for me.
27:14And I'm starting to think that this could be on.
27:17Captain Cody in the orange is getting closer.
27:20They go over the final fence taken in the back straight.
27:23Captain Cody creeping into us.
27:25That leading group of eight are very tightly packed.
27:28Three more fences to take in the final half mile of the 2025 Coral Scottish Grand National.
27:35And the field are led into the home straight by Clark Kent and Jonathan Burke.
27:39I can feel the pack, I can hear them, but I'm still controlling the race at this point.
27:45There's nothing going to flash by me.
27:49I'm still too far from home to get excited.
27:52Harry Godden, outside, race on Captain Cody.
27:56We turn into the straight.
27:59I'm going better than everyone else.
28:01Captain Cody smuggled into the race on the outside.
28:04The only horse that's going remotely okay is the one in front.
28:07And I knew that I had him covered everywhere.
28:10So it was just a matter of when I'm going to go.
28:13They're racing now down towards the final fence of the Coral Scottish Grand National.
28:18Captain Cody on the outside for Willy Mullins and Harry Cobden.
28:22Johnny's absolutely winged it in front of me.
28:26He's landed out of the back of the last three lengths in front of me.
28:29But I know the whole way up the run and I'm going to get him.
28:32They've got a hundred yards to go.
28:34It will be a 1-2 for Willy Mullins.
28:37But which way will it go?
28:39It is Captain Cody who wins the Scottish National.
28:43It was just the most gut-wrenching feeling because I just felt up to that point I've won the Scottish National.
28:57And when he came by me, my heart sunk.
29:02Unbelievable.
29:04I've never won a Scottish National before.
29:08I've never won any national.
29:10To tick one of those off my CV was pretty incredible.
29:16I'm glad to say thanks Willy, you're a good lad.
29:18I like you but you're not getting a kiss.
29:21To be first and second, way better than we ever thought.
29:25Thank you, thank you.
29:27Wow, wow, wow.
29:28We were in with a great show.
29:29And, um, delighted.
29:31First and second, it was just extraordinary.
29:33It's, um, what a feeling.
29:37This was massive for Willy.
29:39A 1-2 in the Scottish National.
29:42Thanks very much Willy.
29:43He is right on Skelton's tail.
29:49There's just two weeks left of the season and Dan Skelton now only leads Willy Mullins by around £16,000.
30:00Wasn't ideal for us, Willy was first and second.
30:03A bit of deja vu.
30:05Um, yeah, the show goes on.
30:08We're still slightly ahead which is a very different position to what we were in last year.
30:11We were well behind after the Scottish Grand National last year.
30:15So, look, we'll just keep fighting.
30:17That's all we can do.
30:31Here, look at this.
30:33That's probably the first picture of us two with the racers.
30:37What year was that?
30:3817th, the 10th.
30:3993.
30:4193.
30:43There's been plenty of adversity in our lives.
30:45You know, it may look like it's silver spoons and gold medals, but I can tell you it's been a long way from that in reality.
30:53That was it. Grandad's out.
30:56Yeah, that was handsome, wasn't I?
30:57I'd obviously been sent to the barber with that hairstyle.
30:59Terrible haircut.
31:00Yeah.
31:01Ain't got much better now.
31:02Yeah, shut up.
31:03Mum had just probably chopped it off with some scissors.
31:10I think I was five and Harry was barely one. Mum and Dad got divorced and we went and lived with Mum.
31:15Hi.
31:16Hi.
31:17Hi.
31:18How are you doing?
31:19Great.
31:20Great.
31:21Our mother had a very long battle, I suppose, with alcohol.
31:26And, you know, I was only young and Dan, you know, could see a lot more what was going on and I was very lucky that, you know, I had him.
31:39Harry!
31:40It was hugely corrosive.
31:45You know, I recognised pretty quickly that I had to look after Harry. I had to notice things and spot things. It wasn't very easy.
31:59Easy.
32:05In the end, we got too much for Mum. We just couldn't all live together.
32:11And we ended up moving back with Dad.
32:13And that wasn't straightforward because Dad was awake and Pete and all the time and things weren't straightforward.
32:24I'm five years older than Harry, so, yeah, I did have to grow up quicker and I looked after Harry for a long time.
32:28Harry, for a lot of his youth, really.
32:31You know, I've got him to thank for a lot and I think now that's probably what makes us so close, all we've known, really.
32:39You know, we're lucky we've got each other.
32:42I wouldn't want to ride for anyone else.
32:46There's nothing like riding a winner for your brother.
32:49I just love putting you on them. It just seems so easy.
32:52Maybe I'm spoilt, but I am spoilt, I know that.
32:54Our spirit was always to fight.
32:57And that's probably ultimately what led us to being competitors.
33:01If it didn't go in well, you've got to keep scrapping.
33:04Oh!
33:06Ow!
33:07We won't give up.
33:08No chance.
33:09No chance.
33:25This is it. Who will win the trainers' championship?
33:28Will it be Willy Munnins like last year?
33:32Or will it be a first title for Dan's skill?
33:35What a lovely day to win.
33:38Never give up.
33:40What are you going to do, Harry?
33:43What's we going to find?
33:45Don't worry about that.
33:47Good morning.
33:48Script is not written yet.
33:50Are you going to win it, Dan?
33:51Oh, yes.
33:56We've got this far.
33:57We've got to just keep focused, try and get this job done.
34:01So the past few weeks can only be described as a positive campaign from both sides.
34:07Willy Munnins and Dan Skelton's team have been going the length and breadth of the country,
34:11picking up bits and bobs of prize money here and there.
34:13Looking at the leaderboard, Willy Munnins now leads for the trainers' championship,
34:18but he's only £2,709 ahead of Dan Skelton.
34:22So going into the one Grade 1 on the card, the Bet365 Celebration Chase is quite clearly going down to the wire.
34:33The Bet365 Celebration Chase, the Grade 1 of the afternoon, £175,000 up for grabs.
34:38A Grade 1 like this, with so much pressure on, you need to have done all your homework.
34:48I'm definitely proud to be a Mullins.
34:50It probably brings that added pressure, but for a sportsman, pressure is what you want.
35:04Come on. Hi, Toby.
35:06Rocky.
35:09She's a trainer, but she probably produces, like, more young horses, and she'll pre-train some horses as well.
35:19Both of my parents were champion jockey Tony Mullins and champion lady rider Margaret Mullins.
35:28So I'm probably an underachiever for my pedigree.
35:33I haven't fulfilled my potential yet, but hopefully I can start to fill into the boots.
35:41It's a great family to be a part of.
35:44She's back to say hello. She's on her tour of the yard.
35:46Hi, Danny.
35:47Morning.
35:48Good morning.
35:49I'm hanging out.
35:50Patrick in the National has really brought the championship alive.
35:53Dan Scalton, he's had a great year, hasn't he?
35:57I think Willie has to make it count on the big days.
36:00So it was pressure on.
36:05Growing up in a hugely successful racing family, you take it for granted.
36:10By the time you start to compete and have a go, you soon realise this is not easy.
36:15Your surname isn't going to carry you to get results, so you have to put in the hard graft.
36:22You have to make it happen yourself.
36:30If a Willie Mullins horse can win this race, it would be the seal of the deal in the championship.
36:38And bolstering Willie's chances further still, his number one jockey, Paul Townend, is back from injury and ready to go.
36:45It all comes down to this, so we need to hit bullseye.
36:50It's all or nothing today, yeah.
36:52OK, gents, you ready, please?
36:55Willie Mullins, strong hand.
36:57I think riding for my brother gives me more drive to succeed.
37:02Skelton's don't give up.
37:03Both Dan and Willie are desperate to win this, but they've got to get past Nicky Henderson's superstar, Jon Bon, who is unbeaten around the track.
37:13New rider for Jon Bon today. Is he in good form?
37:15Everything seems great. He's been terrific.
37:20Jon Bon's the best two-miler in England.
37:24It's a proper, proper race. We'd love to win it again.
37:28Jon Bon is a hot favourite.
37:30Jon Bon is the king of Sandown.
37:34Here he comes, Jon Bon, five out of five at Sandown, two celebration chases, looking for a third today.
37:40Facing off against Jon Bon, Dan Skelton has two horses, but Harper's Brook is 125 to one long shot.
37:48The better of his horses is Unexpected Party, ridden by his brother Harry.
37:52Going into the race, you're hoping that Unexpected Party can outrun himself, and maybe something might go wrong with the favourite, yeah?
38:03Hoping for prize money.
38:05Here's in Ergamin, led up by Imran Adar.
38:08In Ergamin, he's won two champion chases. He's getting a bit older.
38:12We've met Jon Bon in Ascot earlier in the year. He's kicked our butt. It's going to be hard to beat Jon Bon.
38:23Ilete Tom making his return after a year off the track.
38:27Ilete Tom coming into this race, he's definitely going to be one of the outsiders.
38:32For Willy to be placed and get some valuable money here is the biggest expectation.
38:42Hopefully push it towards winning the championship.
38:47Lining up, we know how difficult this race is going to be.
38:52The party might end here for the Skelton. The start could be important here.
38:57Oh, that was an anxious moment there.
38:58Energamin is a bit excited under Paul Townend. It's a false start. This is knife-edge stuff.
39:07The worst thing you can do is panic. Have to breathe. Keep it all together.
39:13Not what I wanted on Ilete Tom. I'm trying to keep him relaxed.
39:19Start a bit more square on, lad.
39:21The starts are so important for any race.
39:24Don't go into that rail. We're all way out here.
39:26Everyone's getting a little bit worked up. The occasion gets to everyone a little bit.
39:35And they're off and racing and Jon Bon has jumped away perfectly okay.
39:40They get a good start. Jon Bon's in front where he likes to be.
39:45Jon Bon out in the lead.
39:46We're in a good rhythm jumping.
39:51But we're just hanging on to Jon Bon's court tails.
39:54We're needing him to make a mistake rather than us going to take the race off him.
39:58Yeah, we settle down passing the stands. We're in a good rhythm. Ilete Tom is behind us. So far so good.
40:08So it's Jon Bon climbing the hill.
40:09Willy has told me to try and get as much prize money as I can. Don't be getting too involved in the early part of the race.
40:26And the last two.
40:27And the last two. Ilete Tom. And last of all, Harpersbrook. So towards the third, run downhill. Jon Bon with the advantage of three lengths.
40:34Are you still at the belt of buttons like Jon Bon wins?
40:37I think so, yeah.
40:38As we head down the back straight, the pace is very strong and unexpected party is just struggling.
40:49I have to just sit and suffer really. I need to say something for the finish.
40:57Ilete Tom moves three to fifth.
41:00Ilete Tom is jumping better than he's ever jumped before.
41:09He's getting into this race. I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me.
41:15In fourth place, Ilete Tom. Unexpected party is losing ground.
41:20Danny Mullins now has arrived on the scene.
41:25Jon Bon out in front by four lengths. Inergamine in second.
41:29I'm starting to struggle. Still have half a flicker of hope, but I need Jon Bon to falter for me to win.
41:35Ilete Tom is improving into fourth place and jumps well there, Ilete Tom.
41:42Ilete Tom is travelling so well. It's time to put Willy's plans on the shelf and have a go at winning.
41:49Jumped upon the fence and I can see Grey coming.
41:53Ilete Tom moving into second place on the outside of Inergamy.
41:56Ilete Tom's gone up the straight like bullet out of a gun really. He ain't for stopping.
42:04Jon Bon with Ilete Tom on the outside. A good lead.
42:07Another very good jump. This one lands him in front.
42:13Jon Bon's got a fight on his hooves and Ilete Tom has Breeze to the lead.
42:18I see Jon Bon is flat to the boards. He got a fence and a big hill to climb.
42:26Ilete Tom at the last. Another really good lead.
42:31He throws another fantastic lead at the last. This could happen.
42:36Ilete Tom away from Jon Bon in second place.
42:40When you see the winning post, everything slows down at that point.
42:48It becomes a bit surreal.
42:52And Ilete Tom the Grey is going to run out to the winner of the celebration chase.
42:58Yes, Mullen! Yes, Mullen!
43:01The final now is put in the coffin of Dan Skelton and sparked the celebrations for Willy Mullidge.
43:08I've delivered the dream for the minority and crushed the hearts of the majority.
43:13Thank you, thank you, thank you.
43:15To ride that big winner for Willy.
43:18The team had been doing so well, but I wanted to get my name on the score sheet somewhere.
43:25For him to come out and win in the manner he did, we all had our jaws on the floor.
43:33That's quite remarkable, that one.
43:35One, two, three, four.
43:37I knew we were done when Ilete Tom won.
43:42Yeah, it's that over.
43:44Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
43:45Yeah, we know it's over now. That's it.
43:48It's tough to take.
43:53Willy looked at me, smiled and said, you never do what you're told.
43:58I just smiled back at him and told him, when there's a chance of winning races, I'm always going to have a go.
44:09It's game, set and match, Willy Mullins.
44:12See you next year.
44:15Same time, place.
44:17I'll get you for this.
44:19I've had enough, I'll surrender.
44:21After an incredible season, Willy wins by nearly 200,000 pounds, beating poor Dan Skelton, who had led all season.
44:30Yeah, I think my total would have been enough to have won all but three or four championships.
44:36But there we go, that's how it is.
44:41In my lifetime, Willy Mullins is without doubt the greatest of all time.
44:48Looking back over the season, Hattic winning the Grand National was huge.
44:55That was one of the best wins I've ever had in my career.
45:00Paul Townend has been fantastic.
45:04Danny winning the Celebration Chase.
45:07Everyone played their part. It's a team effort.
45:11I think it's very special.
45:13It's lovely.
45:14All right. No worries. Cheers, guys. Have a good day. Cheers.
45:21I'm thankful that for the last three weeks, it was us that was in the fight.
45:25I'm very proud of that.
45:27Give the fight the best we could.
45:29I think we've come a long way.
45:32But we're still not there yet.
45:36Next year, we are going to mop up.
45:39It's mop and bucket time, baby.
45:40We are going to sweep the floor.
45:44Step 3
45:51Good.
45:57Where are we, the Cap?
45:59Pastor Ronin.
46:01Oh, no.
46:06Take care.
46:08Hey, hey, hey, hey.
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