How do the championships look heading to Sandown's jumps finale on Saturday?

Owners, trainers and jockeys face the final curtain at Sandown on Saturday when the stars of the British jumps season will be crowned.

After the festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree, there are no signs of the campaign easing to a halt with plenty of top action, including the bet365-sponsored Celebration Chase (3.00) and Gold Cup (3.32).

However, there is unlikely to be any late drama in the trainers' and jockeys' championships, with some familiar faces clear at the top.

Trainers' championship

1 - Paul Nicholls (£2,663,960.53)
2 - Nicky Henderson (£2,393,253.89)
3 - Dan Skelton (£2,072,931.90)
4 - Willie Mullins (£1,730,527.73)
5 - Venetia Williams (£1,555,245.69)

Paul Nicholls is not quite beyond reach but he seems destined for his 13th championship with a lead of around £300,000 over his old rival Nicky Henderson, who conceded he was too far behind after Aintree.

The trainer was given cause for concern heading into the Grand National meeting but maintained his lead over Henderson thanks to Grade 1 wins for Gelino Bello and the ever-reliable Clan Des Obeaux.

A meaningful challenge by Irish champion Willie Mullins failed to materialise and Nicholls is set to edge closer to the 15 titles won by Martin Pipe, who has claimed more than anybody else since 1945.

Nicholls could end his season in style at Sandown with 13 runners on Saturday's card and a live Grade 1 hope in the bet365 Celebration Chase (3.00) with Greaneteen, who triumphed over Altior in the contest 12 months ago and could line up alongside stablemate Rouge Vif.

Coral Trophy fourth Enrilo will be the trainer's sole representative in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.32) after Nicholls left out Betway Bowl winner Clan Des Obeaux and Threeunderthrufive at the confirmation stage.

Marsh Chase runner-up Hitman and Saint Calvados could run for Ditcheat in the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase (2.25) while McFabulous and Scaramanga hold entries for the bet365 Select Hurdle (4.07), where they will aim to land the trainer the final Graded race of the 2021-22 season.

Jockeys' championship

1 - Brian Hughes (197 winners/931 rides)
2 - Sam Twiston-Davies (104/714)
3 - Harry Skelton (102/498)
4 - Harry Cobden (91/413)
5 - Sean Bowen (90/479)

The jockeys' championship went down to the wire last season with Harry Skelton finishing ten clear of Brian Hughes and winning his breakthrough title with 152 winners, primarily for his brother Dan.

Brian Hughes: has built up an unassailable lead in the jockeys' championshipCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hughes, who was champion in 2020, has left nothing to chance this season and has built an unassailable lead of almost 100 winners as he closes in on the 200-winner mark, a feat achieved by champions such as Sir Anthony McCoy, Richard Johnson and Peter Scudamore.

He has ridden more than 100 winners for Donald McCain, including the Grade 2 Altcar Novices' Chase at Haydock aboard Minella Drama.

Hughes is now just three away from 200 winners and will make a rare trip to Sandown on Saturday, having ridden just one winner from 31 rides at the course.

The jockey has claimed just one Grade 1 contest in 2018 but will aim to cause an upset in the Celebration Chase (3.00) with Maylstic, the Peter Niven-trained runner who returned from a 321-day absence in March.

Hughes has three other rides on the card including Ann Hamilton's stable star Nuts Well in the Oaksey Chase (2.25), who drops back in trip after finishing sixth in the Betway Bowl at Aintree.

Rides on Presentandcounting (4.40) and Beyond The Clouds (5.15) complete the afternoon, after which he be officially crowned champion jockey for the second time in his career.

Conditional jockeys' championship

Many top jockeys, including McCoy, Johnson and Hughes, won this championship before becoming champion and the future looks bright for Kevin Brogan, who had 46 winners heading into the final week.

Brogan, who held a lead of 13 winners over Theo Gillard, has ridden winners for a number of trainers, including Harry Fry, for whom he won the valuable bet365 Handicap Chase at Ascot with Phoenix Way.

The championship was won last season by Danny McMenamin, who capped a positive season this time by winning in the Grade 2 New One Hurdle in January.

Owners' championship

It is no surprise to JP McManus leading the owners' championship but it has been a good season even by his high standards, as he has bested the £1,817,969 in prize-money he achieved last campaign.

JP McManus: has plundered more than £2.5 million in prize-moneyCredit: Edward Whitaker

The leading owner has won more than £2.5 million in prize-money this season and has landed a host of big races, including the Fred Winter and Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

He was also prolific at Aintree, landing five Grade 1s with Epatante, Jonbon, Fakir D'Oudairies, Gentleman De Mee and Sire Du Berlais.

It will be a fairly quiet end to the season for owner, who finds himself without a runner in any of the final three Graded contests of the season on Saturday.

He will be represented in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.32), however, with an entry for the Philip Hobbs-trained Musical Slave, who seeks a hat-trick.

McManus could also be represented on the undercard at Sandown with the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Head Law in the opening bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (1.50), while Belargus and The Bomber Liston both hold entries for the concluding bet365 Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f (5.15).

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