Trainers' Championship: Nicky Henderson v Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls was crowned Champion Jumps Trainer for a tenth time last season but the title wasn't decided until the final day of the campaign as Willie Mullins took the Ditcheat handler down to the wire.

Only one man has interrupted Nicholls' year on year domination since he took up the mantle from the similarly dominant Martin Pipe and that was Nicky Henderson in 2012-13.

Henderson went into this season's Cheltenham Festival around half a million down but emerged about £150,000 in front and Nicholls was, in turn, £350,000 in front of Colin Tizzard who was another £350,000 clear of Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Twiston-Davies isn't quoted by the layers but he is confident (we wouldn't have it any other way) of winning the Randox Health Grand National with Blaklion and the Aintree showpiece is worth £561,300 to the winner.

Prize money filters down to £1,000 for finishing tenth with those behind the winner receiving  £211,100.00 (second), £105,500.00 (third), £52,700.00 (fourth) and £26,500.00 (fifth).  

It could clearly play a big part in the destination of the trophy but Henderson's shortest priced runner of three entries are Cocktails At Dawn and Vyta Du Roc at 66/1.

Nicholls, in contrast, hopes to run five with Gold Cup fifth Saphir Du Rheu set to be joined by Vicente, Le Mercurey, Wonderful Charm and Just A Par.

Of course, the likelihood is that neither trainer will win the National leaving the title race to be played out across racecourses up and down the island.

As Nicholls acknowledged going into the Cheltenham Festival, he has a dearth of Grade One horses at present and Henderson could seal the race if picking up a couple of the top prizes but the battalions of Mullins and Gordon Elliott provide a formidable obstacle.

Henderson's lead is down to £116,000 and he is the 4/7 favourite with Nicholls at 6/4.

We take a look at where the title race could be won.

More Aintree

Manifesto Novices' Steeple Chase - £56,130 to the winner

Henderson has won this with Mad Max (2010) and Captain Conan (2013) and saddled L'Ami Serge to finish second last year. The same owners' Top Notch would look an obvious contender for the two and a half mile contest while Nicholls could possibly be represented by JLT fourth Politologue, Grand Annual flop Le Prezien, or even Frodon.

Doom Bar Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle - £56,130

Nicholls saddled his Fred Winter one-two to finish fourth and fifth last year as he attempted to follow up All Yours' win in 2015 but is without a runner this time. Henderson hasn't won it since 2008 (Binocular) but could be represented by Fred Winter second Divin Bere who will need to step up to beat hot favourite Defi Du Seuil.

Betway Bowl Steeple Chase - £84,195

Nicholls has won this race four times and Silviniaco Conti could come back for another go but Henderson's name is conspicuous by its absence and there are no entries from Seven Barrows.

Betway Aintree Hurdle - £112,260

My Tent Or Yours was runner-up last season and could come back for another crack but Champion Hurdle winner Buveur d'Air heads the ante-post market and Nicholls looks short of options with only Modus (who is in the same ownership as his rival's horses) and Old Guard among the entries.

Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase - £50,643

A valuable handicap which Nicholls won with Edgardo Sol in 2012. Le Prezien has this prize as an option with stablemates San Benedeto and Romain de Senam also entered. Grand Annual third Theinval is an obvious contender for Henderson.

Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle -  £39,389

Theinval won this race in 2015 to provide the yard with a second success in three years with Minella Forfitness successful in 2013. Henderson has seven to choose from, including Imperial Cup second Fixe Le Kap, while Nicholls has just Zubayr and Old Guard in the mix.

Crabbie's Top Novices' Hurdle - £56,130

Henderson has won four of the last five renewals with only Cyrus Darius breaking his stranglehold. He has another top team of novices to choose from while Nicholls has dual Taunton winner High Secret.

Betway Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase - £56,130

Both trainers are regulars on the honours board for this prize but Nicholls has no entry this year and Henderson has the upper hand with RSA Chase one-two Might Bite and Aintree specialist Whisper both obvious candidates.

JLT Melling Steeple Chase - £112,260

Neither trainer has an obvious candidate for this Grade One which went to God's Own last season but Art Mauresque and Josses Hill could be allowed to take their chances.

Randox Health Topham Handicap Steeple Chase - £67,356

Henderson didn't trouble the judge last season but had won the three previous renewals; Grand National entry Cocktails At Dawn could line up here along with O O Seven and Gold Present. As De Mee was seventh for Nicholls last year and could come back for another crack with Bouvreuil another possible after a good run in the Festival Plate.

Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle - £56,130

Constantine Bay (Beyond Conceit also entered) could attempt to follow in the steps of Beat That in taking this prize back to Seven Barrows but this is a race that has escaped the Ditcheat handler thus far and will do so again with the yard not represented. 

Gaskells Handicap Hurdle - £39,989

Nicholls won this race with Forest Pennant in 2008 and has given Zarkandar the option of reverting to handicap company for the first time since 2012. Fixe Le Kap is the only entrant from his title rival.

Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle -  £56,130 

Le Prezien chased home Yorkhill 12 months ago and both trainers have got on the board in this race and it could be open with neither Willoughby Court nor Neon Wolf entered. Again, Henderson looks to have more firepower in this division with Cultivator, Beyond Conceit and Lough Derg Spirit all entered but Brio Conti did impress when winning at Kempton.

Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase - £56,130

Sprinter Sacre and Finian's Rainbow both won here after the Arkle but Henderson has suggested that Altior could line up at Sandown instead. The race had been re-opened with no published entries at the time of going to press.

Betway Handicap Steeple Chase - £39,389

Virak was second for Nicholls 12 months ago but hasn't fired this season. Henderson won this in 2004 and 2008 but Cocktails At Dawn and O O Seven have other options during the week.

Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle - £84,195

Whisper is a dual winner of this three mile prize but Mullins' Nichols Canyon has impressed at Aintree before and would appear to be the one to beat. Zarkandar wasn't disgraced behind him at Cheltenham and could attempt to pick up some prize money with Aux Ptit Soins and Ptit Zig other possibles for Nicholls. Different Gravey is the only possible Henderson representative.

Ayr

Coral Scottish Grand National - £122,442

Vicente lifted this prize for Nicholls after running in the NH Chase and Arpege d'Alene is pencilled in to follow the same route but he did spend a lot of time in the air at Cheltenham before finishing strongly to claim fourth. Vyta Du Roc is in the Aintree National but might not get a run and was fifth in last year's renewal from an 8lb higher mark. 

QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle - £59,797

Nicholls mentioned Diego Du Charmil as a possible candidate for this race and has no shortage of options for this limited handicap. He has won this race twice, most recently with another Fred Winter winner in Sanctuaire in 2011, but you have to go back to 1986 and River Ceiriog to find Henderson's only success.

Other races to note at Ayr include the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Steeple Chase (£28,475), the Jordans Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices' Steeple Chase (£25,978) and the Scotty Brand Handicap Steeple Chase (£22,870).

Cheltenham

Ceres Estate Silver Trophy Steeple Chase - £28,475

Both trainers have saddled the runner-up in the last two years with Nicholls' Art Mauresque an obvious candidate to return in an attempt to go one better. 

There are numerous other races worth in the region of £12,000 plus over the two day meeting including, the Weatherite Novices' Steeple Chase (£15,014) and the EBF/TBA Mares' Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase (£22,508).

Sandown

bet365 Celebration Chase - £71,187

Sprinter Sacre signed off here 12 months ago and Altior could well attempt to keep the prize at Seven Barrows but Nicholls does have candidates below that level who could attempt to pick up the pieces.

bet365 Gold Cup - £84,405

There was a long time between drinks for Henderson with Brown Windsor (1989) and Hadrian's Approach (2014) his two winners of this historic contest but Nicholls has won it four times this millenium, seeing Just A Par beaten a short-head last season and is sure to have a strong team.

bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - £31,280

Fred Winter also-rans Dolos and Dreamcatching could be aimed at this race for Ditcheat with Percy Street and Domperignon Du Lys re-opposing for Seven Barrows but both yards may have more cards to play.

bet365 Oaksey Steeple Chase - £28,475

A two mile six contest in which seven ran last year including Nicholls' Saphir Du Rheu, Wonderful Charm and Rocky Creek. None was a match for Menorah but he could be mob-handed again.

 bet365 Select Hurdle - £28,475

Ptit Zig and Silsol lead home Henderson's Vaniteux 12 months ago and the former could be wheeled out again if the title race looks like going down to the wire.

There is also the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase (£18,768) and the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (£18,768).