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Dancing City can help seal title for Mullins

April 2025

Willie Mullins can seal back-to-back British trainers' championship victories in style with Dancing City taken to star on the final day of the season at Sandown on Saturday.

The Closutton handler has taken no chances in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase, fielding 10 of the 20 runners with Grangeclare West's presence at the head of the field ensuring plenty will be running from out of the handicap.

Stablemate Dancing City is one of those lining up off his correct mark, although he has to bounce back from a fall at Aintree last time out, coming down six out when still travelling well in the Mildmay won by Caldwell Potter.

He had previously won his first two chase starts but finished down the field in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, when he set out to make all but was pressured for the lead and eventually made a costly jumping error that ended his race.

Paul Townend has opted to ride High Class Hero, leaving Jonjo O'Neill jnr to take the reins on Dancing City, who steps up markedly in trip but has always looked likely to get further in time and could still be pretty unexposed.

Gaelic Warrior is also expected to make it onto the scoresheet in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

He returned to winning form with a comprehensive success in the Bowl at Aintree and now he is back in the winning groove, he could be hard to peg back.

Although Dan Skelton will likely have to settle for second again behind Mullins, Take No Chances can ensure he does not go down without a fight.

She lines up in the bet365 Select Hurdle having twice finished behind Lossiemouth, taking third in the both the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.

Beaten a fair way at chunky odds on both occasions, she is rated 7lb inferior to likely favourite Kitzbuhel but her mares' allowance keeps her in the mix, with good ground seemingly more in her favour than the market leaders.

Grade One action is on offer in the bet365 Celebration Chase and it is hard to look past the skinny odds of Jonbon.

Nicky Henderson's charge has enjoyed another fine season, winning four of his five starts, with three of those victories coming at Grade One level.

Unfortunately his only defeat once again came on the biggest day of all at Cheltenham, but there were valid excuses for that Champion Chase eclipse and Jonbon certainly put that behind him with a straightforward Melling Chase win at Aintree.

The only slight question mark is his new rider as Mark Walsh takes over from the injured Nico de Boinville, but he is sure to be well-briefed by the Henderson team ahead of the run.

Away from Sandown, Ramazan is the choice in the Try Unibet's New Same Race Multis Handicap at Haydock.

He looked in need of the outing on his seasonal bow at Musselburgh two weeks ago, so that run should stand him in good stead here. - Press Association

SELECTIONS

DONCASTER: Race 1 - 17.40 King Of Speed, Race 2 - 18.15 Yehudi, Race 3 - 18.50 Queensmaite, Race 4 - 19.25 Dorney Lake, Race 5 - 20.00 Galaxy Zoo, Race 6 - 20.30 Betweenthesticks.

HAYDOCK: Race 1 - 14.30 Opportunity, Race 2 - 15.00 Yokohama, Race 3 - 15.40 Ramazan, Race 4 - 16.15 Roland Garros, Race 5 - 16.50 Belsito, Race 6 - 17.25 Boyne Lady, Race 7 - 17.55 Starlit Spice, Race 8 - 18.25 Carron.

LEICESTER: Race 1 - 14.35 Logi Bear, Race 2 - 15.05 Completely Random, Race 3 - 15.35 Skimmer, Race 4 - 16.10 Sceptic, Race 5 - 16.45 Tolerance, Race 6 - 17.20 Invincible Speed, Race 7 - 17.50 Shark Two One.

NAVAN: Race 1 - 14.40 Aurora Nova, Race 2 - 15.15 Charles Darwin, Race 3 - 15.50 Pedro Nunes, Race 4 - 16.25 Leinster, Race 5 - 16.55 Tarima, Race 6 - 17.30 Elusive Peace, Race 7 - 18.00 Yes Oui Si, Race 8 - 18.30 Elle Dorado Rock.

RIPON: Race 1 - 17.00 Valor Spirit, Race 2 - 17.35 Empress Of All, Race 3 - 18.05 Surrey Belle, Race 4 - 18.35 Knightswood, Race 5 - 19.05 Ventura Express, Race 6 - 19.35 Havana Prince, Race 7 - 20.05 Rogue Bullet.

SANDOWN: Race 1 - 14.20 St Pancras, Race 2 - 14.50 Eyed, Race 3 - 15.25 Gaelic Warrior, Race 4 - 16.00 Take No Chances, Race 5 - 16.35 JONBON (NAP), Race 6 - 17.10 Dancing City, Race 7 - 17.45 Peacenik.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1 - 18.45 Swiss Ace, Race 2 - 19.15 Our Planet, Race 3 - 19.45 French Sand, Race 4 - 20.15 Supernova Steps, Race 5 - 20.45 Crest Of Light, Race 6 - 21.15 Fine Print, Race 7 - 21.45 Rory's Gold.

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