Willie Mullins reflects on 'tough' few weeks after being crowned UK champion trainer

Willie Mullins has revealed his battle with Dan Skelton to be crowned champion trainer in the UK has been "tough mentally".

The Closutton handler edged out Skelton after a fantastic afternoon at Sandown on Saturday as wins for Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps put him within touching distance of securing the title before he had the second, third, fourth and fifth-placed horses behind Resplendent Grey in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase with Lombron, High Class Hero, Spanish Harlem and Grangeclare West respectively.

The past few weeks have seen Mullins send horses to multiple courses up and down the UK and he admits is has been tough going.

“The last few weeks have been tough and they must have been tough for Dan too," said Mullins. "That’s the way things go.

“I am very happy for all our connections and owners who once again have supported us with their horses.

“I am very happy to have won the title for the second time this year but I am not making any predictions for next season and we still have a week of the season to go in Ireland. I am going home now to get ready for next week.

“As I said last week, it feels special to do something similar to what Vincent O’Brien did but of course he then and went and also did it on the Flat which I won’t be doing!

“I am very happy doing what I’m doing and am very happy for the owners, staff and the home team, starting with Jackie my wife.

“It’s been tough mentally and I haven’t read the papers for the last four days with so much going on or watched RacingTV. I was reading more about other sports because there was so much going on in racing I tried to keep away from it all. Otherwise, you couldn’t get through it and I’m sure Dan was the same.

“The press and TV make it all so public and it has been great publicity for the sport going down to the last day.”

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