THE final play of the 2024-25 national hunt season has seen Willie Mullins drown the last card at Sandown Park in all the big races to such an extent that even before the action starts at 1.20 the race for the British Trainers Championship has been done and dusted.

With Grangeclare West set to carry top weight in the Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase, it means that over half of the 20-race field are now set to run from out of the weights, to a lesser or greater degree, with Mullins having half of the field at his behest.

The highest-rated horse in the field probably would have won the Grand National had he not been stopped in his tracks with a juddering mistake at the last fence which arguably cost him more than the three lengths he was beaten by. 

The one remaining hope for Dan Skelton — and it is an outside one — is that the 10 runners from Mullins, two of which ran in the Aintree National three weeks ago, and a further four that took part in the Scottish version at Ayr a fortnight ago, will be feeling the affects of that four-mile event as well. This would merely be guesswork on my part and Mullins would never be one to race his charges unless he thought they were fit to do so, so the safe play probably lies with his HIGH CLASS HERO (4.10).

This lightly raced novice chaser is very inexperienced in terms of fencing and overall in big fields, but he has significantly been keeping fresh for this since running in a Grade Three at Thurles on March 15 and he has yet to have his likely stamina tested to the core over three miles plus. Along with possibly stable mate Lombron (far from a certain stayer) and to a lesser extent Transmission (10lbs out of the handicap) he remains the one most likely to step up being suited to the total make-up of the race.

However, to my eyes Mullins has simply ruined the spectacle of the race itself and by throwing 10 darts at this contest rendered the end to winning a second British Trainers Championship a farce.

To a lesser extent he has done the same in several other championship deciding races on the card with four of the nine runners in the Oaksey Chase (2.25) and one of those, GAELIC WARRIOR, should see him land this Grade Two prize stepping up to two-and-three-quarter miles under Paul Townend with the added incentive that he comes here a relatively fresh horse.

In the other major prize of the day, the brilliant JONBON (3.35) should naturally be very hard to beat in the Grade One Bet365 Celebration Chase if he has not gone over the top. If the Nicky Henderson charge does not run up to his best form then on the prevailing ground the rival most likely to take advantage will probably be the seven-year-old Il Etait Temps from, yes, you have guessed it, the Willie Mullins yard.

MOSTLY SUNNY (4.45) may give Skelton scant consolation in the Bet365 Handicap Hurdle, while I shall be having a penny or two on LUCKY PLACE (3.00) to bounce back from his non-staying run in the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

This could turn out to be his optimum trip and with more improvement to come I think that he should be nearer an even money shot than the 5/2 currently available at the time of writing.

Away from the Esher track, I am rather keen on the Richard Fahe-trained RAMAZAN (Haydock, 2.40) after just under a year ago he was thought good enough to go off a 5/1 shot in the Grade Three John Of Gaunt Stakes over the course and distance when officially rated 107. Winless since then, but twice placed off a rating of 100, he now has the chance to run off 99 with the benefit of a run at Musselburgh behind him over seven furlongs, I fancy that he can successfully give the weight away to Thunder Roar, winner of the Spring Mile at Doncaster, but thrown out in the stewards room.

ROARING RALPH (3.50) looks the outstanding value wager on the card at the Merseyside track. An exposed five-year-old that trades over both six and seven furlongs, his best make-up is this six when there is a bundle of pace on and that looks more than the likely case here. Last a winner off 65 and 70, since placed off 68 and 70, he simply didn’t last home over seven furlongs last time out after looking all over the winner at the distance. With Rhys Elliott taking 5lbs off his back and dropped by the handicapper in the weights, the selection is now set to run off a very attractive mark of just 63 and must be backed each-way.

BOYNE LADY (4.25) and YABHER (5.25) also have solid claims in their respective races and I am particularly keen on the last named. This will be only his fourth career start and his defeat on his three-year-old debut at Newmarket can be safely consigned to the dustbin as he became unbalanced on the Rowley Mile track as many have before him.

Elsewhere, if the veteran and top weight Commanche Falls is fit and ready to go first time up in the feature Carling King Richard III Handicap at 2.05, then he looks a prime player at around the 10/1 mark, but I think he may well be unable to give the weight away to BILLYJOH. Better for his opening seasonal debut and down to a rating of 92, his chance is there for all to see if he gets the run of the race from off the pace under Frederick Larson.

GUENDOLIN (3.10) should take another step forward on her four-year-old debut with Oisin Murphy booked, while after being gelded MAJESTIC LEO could outrun his price in the maiden at 2.35 up against some nicely bred newcomers.