Mullins grateful for goodwill of owners in dual title pursuit

Master handler identifies Celebration Chase as key race in pursuit of British trainers' championship

GOLDEN MOMENT: Kerry football captain Paudie Clifford meets dual Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs at Willie Mullins' Closutton base on Wednesday.  Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Success carries its own comple and as we close in on the season-ending Punchestown festival, Willie Mullins finds himself focusing on two fronts, with the distinct chance of being crowned the champion trainer on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Saturday’s Grand National victory with I Am Maximus, allied to his other successes at the Aintree meeting, have put him in front in the UK trainers’ championship, and given that such an opportunity will not arise every year, it would be remiss of Mullins not to try to get over the line this time.