Willie Mullins declares ‘extraordinary’ horse not seen for a year as part of army of superstars for Sandown showdown

WILLIE MULLINS has declared an army of superstars for his epic Sandown showdown – including an ‘extraordinary’ runner not seen for a year.

The all-conquering Irish trainer is throwing the kitchen sink at the final day of the jumps season in a bid to overhaul Dan Skelton and claim a second jumps trainer title.

ReutersGrade 1 superstar Il Etait Temps will make his long-awaited return to the track after a year off[/caption]

Mullins trails his big rival by just under £25,000 at the time of writing with a tally of £3,283,054.

But the Closutton boss is 1-12 to get the better of him at Sandown – after forcing ITV bosses into a broadcasting change in anticipation of his crowning.

It’s testament to his simply unmatchable strength in depth that Mullins didn’t include all his A-listers for Sandown.

To the relief of commentator Simon Holt, Lossiemouth won’t take on Lossiemouth in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle – neither were declared.

Mullins vs Skelton

Here’s how the title will be decided in the Sandown showdown

1.20pm bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (£100,000)
Willie Mullins: None
Dan Skelton: None

1.50pm bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (£40,000)
Mullins: None
Skelton: Riskintheground

2.25pm bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2, £80,000)
Mullins: Appreciate It, Classic Getaway, Gaelic Warrior, Gentleman De Mee
Skelton: Boombawn

3.00pm bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2, £80,000)
Mullins: Kitzbuhel
Skelton: Gwennie May Boy, Take No Chances

3.35pm bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1, £175,000)
Mullins: Energumene, Il Etait Temps
Skelton: Harper’s Brook, Unexpected Party

4.10pm bet365 Gold Cup (£175,000)
Mullins: Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner, Dancing City, High Class Hero, Lombron, Olympic Man, O’Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Chosen Witness, Klarc Kent
Skelton: Hoe Joly Smoke

4.45pm bet365 Handicap Hurdle (£35,000)
Mullins: Bunting, Dr Eggman, Jump Allen, King Alexander
Skelton: Got Grey, Mostly Sunny

But Mullins has flooded the bet365 Gold Cup – the feature and richest race of the day – with TEN of the 20 runners.

His domination of the field means Skelton’s sole runner Hoe Joly Smoke will be running massively out of the handicap.

Among the other Galacticos to line up will be recent Grade 1 scorer Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 1 Oaksey Chase.

While Minella Cocooner will be back to defend his Gold Cup crown alongside Grand National third Grangeclare West, Grade 1 monster Dancing City, High Class Hero, Lombron, Olympic Man, O’Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, Chosen Witness and Klarc Kent.

It is in the Celebration Chase, however, we see one big name make a long-awaited return.

Four-time Grade 1 winner Il Etait Temps makes his track comeback for the first time since winning the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown on May 2 last year.

Labelled an ‘extraordinary’ horse by his trainer, Il Etait Temps is one of two in the race for Mullins alongside former Champion Chase king Energumene.

Both will be tasked with taking on defending champion Jonbon, who will be ridden by Mark Walsh owing to Nico de Boinville’s injuries.

Mullins won’t have a runner in the first two races, both Class 2 handicaps.

While Skelton will field just Riskintheground in the 1.50 contest, a novice chase over 2m4f.

The Warwickshire-based handler has declared Boombawn for the Oaksey Chase, where he will be up against the might of Appreciate It, Classic Getaway, Gaelic Warrior and Gentleman De Mee for Mullins.

Skelton has the numerical advantage in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at 3pm, his Take No Chances and Gwennie May Boy taking on Mullins’ sole runner Kitzbuhel.

While both have two in the Celebration Chase, with Skelton running Unexpected Party and Harper’s Brook against Mullins’ Il Etait Temps and Energumene.

It all swings massively back in favour of Mullins in the Gold Cup at 4.10pm with his ten runners to Skelton’s one.

And he has four runners – Bunting, King Alexander, Dr Eggman and Jump Allen – to Skelton’s two – Mostly Sunny and Got Grey – in the final race at 4.45pm.