The Racing Horse thought that Paul Nicholls had no chance wrestling the trainers’ title back from Willie Mullins after the Cheltenham Festival but he has been like a man possessed and the horses have responded! With just 22 days of April completed he has recorded 26 winners for the month so far from 98 runners for a 27% strike-rate and a level stakes profit of +8.88. Remember, this is the end of the season where one imagines a lot of horses have trained over. His record high was mid-season November 2014 when he trained 28 winners but it now looks as though he will beat that number!

Both he and Willie Mullins send a battalion of runners out from their respective stables today. With lots of prize money up for grabs we could see the momentum swinging both ways throughout the afternoon. Exciting stuff! Paul Nicholls will be chasing his ninth trainers' title, whilst Willie Mullins, who has raided these shores for most of the main prizes this season will be looking to land the UK title for the first time.

In terms of actual winners the difference is huge with Paul Nicholls scoring 121 compared to Willie Mullins 26. However, Nicholls has won £2,329,232.26 whilst Mullins has won £2,275,659.72 for a difference of £53,572.54

Here are Paul Nicholls runners at Sandown with current prices:

2:20 Tommy Silver 4
2:55 Rocky Creek 28  Wonderful Charm 10  Saphir Du Rheu 12
3:35 Dodging Bullets 16 Ulck Du Lin 80  Solar Impulse 50
4:10 Southfield Theatre 8  Just A Par 20
4:45 Ptit Zig 6  Silsol 14  San Benedeto 33
5:20 Some Buckle 13/2  Calipto 9/2  As De Mee 6
5:55 Alcala 12  Qualando 14  Chartbreaker 33  Red Hanrahan 9

Here are Willie Mullins runners at Sandown with current prices:

2:20 Voix Du Reve 5/2
2:55 Ballycasey 16  Valseur Lido 10/11
3:35 Un De Sceaux 6/4
4:10 Sir De Champs 25  Measureofmydreams 14
4:45 Vroum Vroum Mag 5/6
5:20 
5:55 McKinley 18  Bellow Mome 8  Burgas 22

It is almost certain that three of the races will be won by the trainers but will it be more? At the prices there will be punters playing 'stop at a winner' and we will be one of them! Another thing we know is that place betting will be more important today than it has ever been and we expect a fair few second, third or fourth place finishes from the horses above! It is going to be a great day and we just hope all the horses return sound.