Willie Mullins looks to Ludlow to home in on title

The year-long race to become British horseracing's champion jockey and champion trainer for the season is still very much alive with just four days left of the 2023-24 jumps season.

Somerset jockey Harry Cobden (159) is seven wins clear of Welshman Sean Bowen (152) as Saturday's season-closer at Sandown Park looms ever larger.

In the trainers' race, Irishman Willie Mullins remains out in front.

And he sends out four runners at Perth on Thursday and a first-ever at Ludlow.

He would be only the second Irishman to win the British title after Vincent O'Brien, who secured the prize for a second time 70 years ago.

Mullins is expected to be at Perth rather than Ludlow to see Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Paul Townend ride four short-priced hopes, Dr Eggman, Loughglynn, Instit and Figaroc.

But his best bet of the day is Daddy Long Legs in the first at Ludlow - the first time he has entered a runner at the charming South Shropshire course, such is his keenness to claim a first British title. And ridden by his son (and assistant trainer) Patrick.

"Patrick put up his hand to ride him," said Mullins. "He takes a drop in class going to Ludlow, but he looks very well in.

"I'm told it's a unique lay-out of a track. Hopefully he'll handle it."

Whereas the jockeys' title is decided on who has the most winners, for the trainers, it is all about who has the most money. And Mullins starts the day on £3,087,248, clear of Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls.

Since training I Am Maximus to win the National at Aintree 11 days ago, to become a real live contender, Mullins has made no secret of his desire to go all out and financially outflank Britain's top trainers.

The plan, ever since Aintree, was "to enter everything qualified in whatever races and see what happens.

"It isn't what we'd usually do but shows what can be done," he said.

Warwickshire-based Skelton (£2,907,463) and Somerset's Nicholls (£2,834,334) are still within touching distance and are capable of overhauling Mullins if they have a good Saturday at Sandown, where there is a total pot of £700,000 on offer in prize money.

But, after four winners from 18 entries at Ayr on Saturday, capped by outsider Macdermott's shock victory in the Scottish National, and a short odds-on winner at Ffos Las on Monday, it speaks volumes that Team Mullins are warming up for Sandown by chasing such comparatively small prizes.

If Dr Eggman (£4,357), Daddy Long Legs (£4,357), Loughglynn (£14,238), Instit (£18,509) and Figaroc (£8,714) were all to finish first, collectively they would earn less than a tenth of the £500,000 that I Am Maximus earned at Liverpool - British jump racing's biggest prize.

But every victory counts. And, to be chasing less than £5,000 at Ludlow is a measure of the immense Mullins will to win.