Patrick Mullins delighted to record first Catterick winner

Patrick Mullins loves setting himself new challenges and in riding his first winner at Catterick on Jarrive De Mee, he ticked another course off on his quest to complete a full British set.

While he is well aware the task is going to prove a stiff one, he is also humble enough to realise that he is in a very privileged position. As the son and assistant trainer of the all-conquering Willie Mullins, Patrick can cherry pick horses he thinks will be suited to certain tracks and attempt to persuade his father to let them run. But he does not always get his own way.

Despite having well over 200 horses at their Closutton base, surprisingly few will fit the requirements for the likes of Perth, Ludlow and Wincanton for midweek action across the Irish Sea.

He would love to be champion amateur in the UK too, to emulate his father who is currently champion in both jurisdictions, but believes his main rival Alex Chadwick already has too much of an advantage.

Jarrive De Mee had won in Patrick’s own colours at Thurles last time out, form which had been subsequently franked, so it was no surprise to see him sent off the 2-5 favourite in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Season Ticket Novices’ Hurdle.

However, two out it looked like being another fruitless trip to Catterick for Mullins, just like his only previous visit, when Gentleman Bill took up the running.

Searching for the better ground tight to the rail, though, Mullins brought his mount back level at the last and he went away to win by three and a half lengths.

“He jumped right most of the way so he was giving ground away,” said Mullins.

“He’s probably done well considering that. We came here for the better ground and we’d call that yielding. He’s tough, he got headed at Thurles as well.

“We’ll just take small steps with him, we’ll try to get another win under his belt and with Punchestown being right-handed we’ll aim towards that.”

Mullins, who rides at Wetherby on Thursday in search of another new winning track, was planning to spend the evening watching Championship title-chasing Leeds United take on Norwich City.

“I’m not a Leeds fan, I’m a red, (Manchester) United. I grew up in the Roy Keane, Denis Irwin era! I’ve been to Man United and Leeds matches at Old Trafford, but I’ve never been to Elland Road. I’ve friends who are fans,” he said.

“Then it’s on to Wetherby to ride Chart Topper for a very important owner – my mother!”

He will need to keep up his strike-rate to catch Chadwick, who is on a very impressive 18 winners.

“I would love to be champion amateur here, but with regards to that I think Alex Chadwick has put it to bed already, he’s had six winners since Christmas. Normally 15 would win it and he’s passed that already,” said Mullins.

“As for riding a winner at every track, I’ve been riding at home for 20 years and I know the tracks like the back of my hand. I’ve got another five or six years riding, hopefully more, but I’d love to ride as many winners at as many different tracks as I can.

“If we have horses to suit the race – for instance this fella likes nice ground – we’re quite happy to travel.”

When asked how many of the 40 National Hunt tracks he had been successful at he said: “Not enough!

“I think that’s 12 now, but we’re at Wetherby on Thursday, maybe Plumpton on Monday and we’ve a few pencilled in for next week as well, so we’ll keep ticking away.

“I like having something to aim for and this certainly gives me that. For me I need something to aim at, whether that was Ted Walsh’s record number of winners (for an amateur in Ireland) or my father’s.

“I realise I’m in a very lucky position, most people can’t attempt things like this, but I can.”