Willie Mullins is no bigger than 1-6 to retain the British jumps trainers' championship he won for the first time last year after a one-two in the Coral Scottish National put him right on the coattails of long-time leader Dan Skelton. Last year's runner-up held a lead of more than £1.3 million over Mullins going into Aintree's Grand National meeting this month, but after saddling eight winners in Liverpool, including the first three home in the £1m showpiece, Mullins had reduced Skelton's lead to less than £125,000 by the end of the National meeting. Skelton had stretched that advantage to almost £170,000 by the close of play on Friday and at one stage on Saturday was £177,863 ahead of Mullins, but the master of Closutton took a huge bite out of that lead as Captain Cody collected £112,540 by winning the Scottish National, with stablemate Klarc Kent adding an additional £42,400 to the Mullins coffers in second and seventh-placed Olympic Man contributing £1,320. Mullins saddled 17 runners at Ayr on Saturday, including six the Scottish National, and by the end of racing trailed Skelton by just £1,454.50. Both trainers are well represented at Cheltenham's April meeting starting on Wednesday, with Mullins holding 16 entries over the two-day fixture compared to 25 entries for Skelton. The title will be decided at Sandown on April 26, with several potential key battlegrounds before then. Key battlegrounds Cheltenham (April 16-17) It lacks the prestige of the festival, but the two-day April meeting at Cheltenham could prove crucial in determining who heads into Sandown with the upper hand. There is £480,000 available in prize-money, with the £70,000 Silver Trophy the feature on the opening day. Mullins dominates the front of that Silver Trophy market with Classic Getaway and Tullyhill disputing favouritism in front of stablemate O'Moore Park. Skelton has the option of backing up Friday's Ayr winner Riskintheground quickly or relying on Harper's Brook. Classic Getaway: leading contender for the Silver Trophy at Cheltenham Credit: Caroline Norris Haydock (April 19) It's a relatively quiet Saturday for the jumps in Britain, with Musselburgh's Flat action taking priority, but there is still the small matter of a £100,000 Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase, a series final at Haydock. There are two £40,000 challenger series finals also on the card. Plumpton (April 20-21) The East Sussex track often punches above its weight with prize-money and its two-day Easter meeting is no different. There is £453,500 on offer in prize-money, headlined by the two feature races, the £75,000 Sussex Champion Hurdle and £100,000 Sussex Champion Chase. Skelton's track record at Plumpton is 5-28 in the last five seasons, while Mullins has only sent the one runner across in that time, with More Coko beaten at 1-8 under Patrick Mullins last month. Perth (April 23-25) Racing returns to Perth with a three-day meeting on the final week of the season. Although no pot is bigger than the £40,000 Listed novice hurdle on the opening day, there is £312,000 in prize-money up for grabs across the meeting. Mullins has had seven runners at Perth in the last five seasons, winning just once, although all bar one finished in the first four. By comparison, Skelton has had 19 runners at the track in that time, winning with five of them. Sandown (April 26) It could all come down to the final day at Sandown, with the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase and the bet365 Gold Cup both worth £175,000. Jonbon is expected to be favourite for the Celebration Chase, given his flawless record at Sandown for Nicky Henderson. Minella Cocooner won the bet365 Gold Cup for Willie Mullins last year Credit: Edward Whitaker However, the early entries are out for the bet365 Gold Cup, which Mullins claimed last year with Minella Cocooner. Talented novice Dancing City is the 8-1 ante-post favourite with the sponsors for Mullins, who is responsible for 14 of the 61 entries. Skelton has five entered, most notably Hoe Joly Smoke, a two-time course winner this season and available at 11-1 with bet365. The meeting also features the £100,000 bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle and two £80,000 Grade 2s, the Oaksey Chase and Select Hurdle. Read these next: 'I told Harry to put on his best female voice' - Captain Cody leads home stable one-two for Willie Mullins under ice-cool Cobden 2025 Scottish Grand National result: where your horse finished and who won Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.