Dan Skelton's mare Shakeyatailfeather secured a victory at Cheltenham's final card, helping Skelton maintain a narrow lead over defending champion Willie Mullins in the National Hunt trainers' championship. Mullins, with a seasonal total of £3,141,202, trails Skelton by £30,761. The title race intensifies as both trainers prepare for a busy Easter weekend with multiple runners across various tracks, including a valuable two-day fixture at Plumpton.
Mullins, who equaled his Cheltenham record with 10 wins last month, could not add to his tally on Thursday despite four runners finishing in the money. Skelton, priced at 3-1 to win the championship, will aim to extend his lead further with 10 declared runners on Saturday. The Easter weekend features a total prize fund of £450,000 across 14 races, with strong teams expected from both trainers at Plumpton. The title race briefly pauses on Friday for the All-Weather Championships card at Newcastle, offering over £1m in prize money with competitive fields in all six events.