
Willie Mullins forces major ITV Racing coverage change in blockbuster title bout with Dan Skelton
A little over £57,000 separates the two trainers in their bid to come out on top in the season-long race.
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Bookies make Mullins - who has entered an army of superstars at the Surrey track - just 2-7 to regain his crown.
He currently trails Skelton in the standings as he looks to make it two championships in a row.
But with hundreds of thousands up for grabs in the jumps season finale, ITV and racecourse bosses have pulled out all the stops in their efforts to give fans what they want.
All races have been moved forward 30 minutes, and the televised races switched to show the very last contest at its new time of 4.45pm.
A Jockey Club statement read: "This Saturday's bet365 Jump Finale fixture at Sandown Park will begin 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled, to ensure racing fans can watch the thrilling conclusion to the Jump Trainers' Championship live on ITV 1.
"As the seventh and final race on Saturday's card, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle was due to start at 5.20pm, 20 minutes after ITV Racing go off air.
"However, Sandown Park Racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority have collaborated to bring forward the first race of the day, the bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, from 1.50pm to 1.20pm and the closing race from a 5.20pm to 4.45pm start.
"Further changes to Saturday's running order include moving the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase from the sixth to the second race, the bet365 Oaksey Chase from the second to the third, the bet365 Celebration Chase from the third to the fifth, the bet365 Select Hurdle from the fifth to the fourth and the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase from the fourth to the sixth.
"The changes will ensure ITV Racing's 1.30pm to 5pm show covers the last six races of the season live, giving fans the chance to see the outcome of this year's Jump Trainers' Championship title race between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins."
While Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course at Sandown Park, said: "Saturday promises to be a gripping end to the jumps season and we wanted racing fans who can't join us on the day to be able to watch all the drama unfold live on ITV Racing.
"We're incredibly grateful to the BHA, participants and the teams at Haydock Park and Leicester racecourses, who have moved races to accommodate our changes at very short notice.
"All of us at Sandown Park are excited about bringing the curtain down on what has been a fantastic season and showcasing its thrilling conclusion to fans on course and at home."
Mullins broke Skelton's heart with victory on the final day at Sandown 12 months ago.
British handler Skelton, whose brother Harry rides all his best horses, has had well over 100 more winners than Mullins this season.
But Mullins - who could block his biggest rival from having a runner in the feature race on Saturday - has struck when it mattered.
He was once again top trainer at Cheltenham Festival, had a 1-2-3 in the Grand National and followed that up with a 1-2 in the Scottish National.
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