WILLIE Mullins is putting up a tremendous late rally to hold on to his Irish trainers’ championship and with two Grade 1 wins yesterday, he has narrow lead over Gordon Elliott as the National Hunt season enters its final day at Punchestown.

Bookmakers now make Mullins the 4/5 favourite (Elliott 4/1) to hold on and be crowned champion for the 10th year in a row. As of 7.30pm on Friday evening, the gap between the pair was €94,295 but there is over €400,000 to be won on today’s card.

Before the Festival started last Tuesday Elliott’s lead was just over €400,000. It was reduced to €260,000 on the first day and remained close to that level for much of the week following a series of near misses for the Mullins camp.

Un De Sceaux, Penhill, Djakadam and Nichols Canyon all finished second in valuable Grade 1 races for Mullins and Walsh - two of them beaten in photo-finishes before Wicklow Brave and Bacardys took the Grade 1s yesterday and added over €200,000 Mullins tally.

Elliott has also had his reversals - Labaik refusing to race and Sutton Place going lame in key events.

The season’s champions are usually presented with their trophies after Saturday’s feature race but that ceremony may have to be delayed for the trainers today depending on the results.

What is certain is that Ruby Walsh is champion jockey for the 12th time. His final total is likely to be over 130 winners and double that of second placed Jack Kennedy.

Rachael Blackmore is the first woman in Irish racing history to be the leading claiming professional jump jockey. Before racing on Friday she had ridden 31 winners, seven more than Donagh Meyler and J.J. Slevin.

Jamie Codd looked well on the way to be champion amateur for the first time with five winners more than Patrick Mullins until Mullins rode a treble yesterday and quipped “it’s a pity the title isn’t decided on prize money!” Twice a winner of The Irish Field Point-to-Point Riders Championship, Codd is two ahead and would be a worthy winner and was helped by the decision of champion owners Gigginstown House Stud last October to move a number of young horses from Willie Mullins to Gordon Elliott, for whom he regularly rides.

Gigginstown took 60 horses away from Mullins in total and, should Elliott emerge champion today, it is that move which will be seen as the key factor that determined the outcome.

THE FINAL BATTLE

Willie Mullins led by after racing yesterday €94,295

TODAY’S RUNNERS

Gordon Elliott

3:10 - Bless The Wings,

Captain Von Trappe

3:50 - Apple’s Jade, Barra

4:25 - Mega Fortune, Dinaria Des Obeaux

5:00 - Space Cadet

5:35 - Automated, Carrig Cathal, Jeannot Du Nonant, Milsean, Sire Du Berlais

6.10 - The Shearers Wife

Willie Mullins

3:10 - Arbre De Vie, Sambremont

3:50 - Airlie Beach, Augusta Kate, Karalee, Whiteout

4:25 - Bapaume, Dandy Mag, Meri Devie

5:00 - Retour En France, The Crafty Butcher

5:35 - Allblak Des Places, Bonbon Au Miel, Diakali, Livelovelaugh, Open Eagle, Pique Sous, Renneti, Thomas Hobson, Chambord Du Lys (reserve)

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