Its the penultimate day in the British Champion Jumps Trainers Competition, with Paul Nicholls ahead by a nose after his three winners yesterday, he looks set to retain his crown from last year. Willie Mullins has put up a brave fight, looking like he was just edging ahead with his win at Perth, for a small period of time anyway. But it wasnt to be, Nicholls blasted him off the course putting the trophy firmly back in his hands.
Today Mullins has one horse racing at Perth again, in the 3.40 McCarthy and Stone Chase (Novice Limited Handicap), Rolly Baby, it is the favourite, ridden by the jockey Paul Townend the winnings are £9,097 which could edge Mullins ahead again, if Nicholls fails to win any of his races today, which to be fair is unlikely. Best odds are 7/4 with BET365
Nicholls has four runners all at Chepstow this evening,starting at 4.30 in the Evan and Megan Brace Memorial Novices Hurdle (DIV 1) Rainy City, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, as are his other three rides. It's the favourite so unless you got on early, good odds are hard to find, its 2/1 with Betvictor. The next runner he has is in the 5.00 Div 2 Hurdle, Simon Squirrell, the track is good to firm today which should suit this horse, which is why odds are evens with nearly all the bookmakers.
The next race is the 6.05 at Chepstow, where Ruben Cotter is running the Dunraven Windows Handicap Chase, this horse is the fourth favourite, but looking at Nicholls form with Sam in the riding seat this season, they are pretty unbeatable, so I'd give this horse my backing, the odds are good at the moment, so an each way punt should bring you something back. 10/1 with Paddy Power.
The final race of the day for Nicholls is the 8.05 at Chepstow, where he has the second favourite running , Whispering Storm odds are good at the moment so again get on early 11/1 at William Hill and 9/1 with Coral.
Dont underestimate the influence of this trophy on the days racing, both Mullins and Nicholls would love to win it and the jockeys are fully aware of this. This should give us a great days racing to look forward to tomorrow.