Paul Nicholls extends lead over Willie Mullins for trainer’s title

Paul Nicholls extended his lead over Willie Mullins after another decent pay-day in the race to be crowned British champion trainer.

Nicholls began Thursday a shade over £43,000 in front of his rival and hit the bullseye twice at Warwick.

He also had a winner at Exeter’s evening meeting to enhance his chances of claiming a 10th National Hunt title as he went £53,556 ahead of his Irish rival.

El Bandit (15-8) scooted clear in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies to win the second division of the Close Brothers Maiden Hurdle at Warwick, earning £3,249.

The Close Brothers Finance Handicap Hurdle was particularly fruitful for the Ditcheat maestro, with even-money favourite The Eaglehaslanded scooping the first prize of £7,148 and Easter Day picking up £525 for finishing fourth.

Stilletto was even-money to win the most valuable event on the card, the Close Brothers Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, and while he proved disappointing and finished last of the three runners, he still picked up a cheque for £2,310.

Nicholls’s fifth and final runner at Warwick was Brio Conti in the Close Brothers Standard Open NH Flat Race and the newcomer got £238 for finishing a close third, taking the trainer’s Warwick earnings to £13,470.

Tom Jonason, assistant trainer, said: "After the Ayr meeting (last weekend), we were absolutely buzzing on the way home, Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“It was all a bit dreary after Aintree. A long time ago Paul said he was not going to send everything to Aintree to save a few bullets and that showed at Ayr.

“Hopefully we have saved a few more for the weekend.”

It was not all bad news for Mullins, who added £8,519 to his total at Perth.

Townshend (1-2 favourite) came good to claim victory and £3,899 in the Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices’ Hurdle, before Tennis Cap filled the runner-up spot behind last year’s winner Witness In Court in the Lindsays Handicap Chase, earning £4,620.

The scene moved on to Exeter where Nicholls had the one winner from five runners.

His assault began with Boa Island, who secured £477 for finishing third in the Racing UK In Glorious HD Novices’ Hurdle.

Present Man put up a game effort from the front but had to settle for second, just a head behind Call The Detective in the Helen Tellam 50th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase. He picked up £1,526 for his efforts.

However, there was a sting in the tail for jockey Nick Scholfield as he was banned for nine days for using his whip above the permitted level. He is suspended from May 5th-13th.

Scholfield put that behind him by getting 6-4 favourite Black Cotton home in the Wild Beer Co Maiden Hurdle from his Nicholls-trained stablemate Whipcord with £2,599 and £763 respectively.

Bill And Barn was sent off 10-11 favourite for the concluding Goffs Spring Sales P2P Bumper but finished out of the money in sixth place as Fearless Fantasy took the spoils.

The show continues on Friday when Nicholls has four runners at Chepstow’s evening meeting, while Mullins saddles just one runner at Perth, with Rolly Baby declared for the McCarthy & Stone Chase before the battle reaches its climax at Sandown on Saturday.