'He must have some engine' - winners, magic memories and a remarkable recovery in Patrick Mullins' Christmas diary
The Racing Writer of the Year looks back on the key events at Leopardstown and Kempton
Patrick Mullins reflects on a cracking Christmas on both sides of the Irish Sea . . .
December 26
St Stephen’s Day. Leopardstown. Big crowd, big day. Paul Townend is at Kempton, so my cousin Danny and I have some juicy spares. While the cat is away, the mice will play.
I’m called down to the finish line by the stewards before the first race to discuss the visibility through the fog. We can see enough, I assure them. Checking again after the two maiden hurdles might be sensible. I jog back up to the weigh-room, zig-zagging through the crowd, to ride two short-priced favourites in said maiden hurdles.
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Published on inPatrick Mullins
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- Lean in and enjoy - the festive action is out of this world and 'beast' Gaelic Warrior is the pick of my rides
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard
- Patrick Mullins: 'I think about her, and smile. As I always will when I do'
- 'She's clearly knocked out. But her lips are also very pale, nearly blue. I begin to think something but then don't'
- 'I never dial myself down, so when I ride I still put on my mascara' - Patrick Mullins meets Aine O'Connor