'Simply extraordinary'

Willie Mullins punches out on a remarkable season as the first Irish trainer in 70 years to win the British championship title - just one highlight of an epic season finale

- JENNIFER DONALD

bet365 Finale Meeting, Sandown Park, Surrey

AN outpouring of goodwill swept over Sandown as "genius" trainer Willie Mullins was hailed a true champion, when sealing victory in the British trainers' championship.

The Closutton handler's audacious heist in the last gasps of a remarkable season took the title race right to the wire, and it was El Fabiolo's second-place finish in the Celebration Chase (see "Race of the week", p80) that sealed the deal. But the team went on to score a tremendous double with Minella Cocooner (Danny Mullins) in the bet365 Gold Cup and Impaire Et Passe (Paul Townend) in the Grade Two bet365 Select Hurdle during a vintage season finale.