So often in racing, both in human and equine terms, pedigree shines through. Patrick Mullins’ is yet another human example of this as he is a son of former top amateur rider and current Champion National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins, a nephew of successful National Hunt trainers Tony and Tom Mullins, and a grandson of one of the great National Hunt trainers, Paddy Mullins. In a very short space of time, Patrick has established himself as one of the best amateur rider’s on the National Hunt scene. Riding primarily for his father, he has shown that he has an astute tactical riding brain as well as a power-packed finish.
Principal Trainer: Willie Mullins
Notable Wins:
- Rockview Irish National Hunt Flat Race (Samain 2011, Fionnegas 2009)
- ITBA EBF National Hunt Fillies Premier Bumper (Blazing Tempo 2009)
- Punchestown Champion Bumper (Cousin Vinny 2008)
- Cheltenham Champion Bumper (Cousin Vinny 2008)
- Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier (Adamant Approach 2007)
- Denny Havasnack Race (Diego Garcia 2006)
Early Success
He took his first ride in public on his father’s Screaming Witness in a bumper at Thurles in December 2005 and he rode his first winner at the age of 16 on his father’s Diego Garcia in a qualified riders race at Limerick the following June. Understandably, at that time his riding was restricted by him having to attend school, but he increasingly managed to turn up on the race track to take fancied rides. Indeed, his next two rides after that first winner also resulted in success. He took plenty of rides throughout the summer, no doubt due to that period coinciding with school holidays, and he gained a notable win on the aforementioned Diego Garcia in the prestigious Denny Havasnack Race at Tralee the following August. It was notable as, in winning the race at the first attempt, he got one up on his father who had taken over 20 attempts as a rider to win it. The winners continued to flow in the weeks and months that followed, including a notable success on the loveable veteran Adamant Approach in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier on Pierse Hurdle Day at Leopardstown. He finished up the 2006/7 season with a total of eight wins, and it was noticeable that the number of rides he was getting from outside stables was increasing.
Success At The Highest Level
2007/8 saw Patrick’s workload increase no end and undoubtedly his most notable partnership was with his father’s immensely exciting Cousin Vinny. The pair first teamed up for a bumper at Punchestown in February and despite being hampered at the start, the five-year-old quickened impressively to get up in the dying strides to win by 1¼ lengths. The promise of that run was clear, and when the pair again teamed up for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, they were sent off at a well-fancied 12/1. Despite not being able to use his claim against the seasoned professionals, Mullins gained universal plaudits for the cool ride he gave the son of Bob Back, leading over 2f out and coming home 3¼ lengths in front. The win prompted the winning trainer to state that it was one of his most satisfying moments in racing to see his son ride the winner of such a prestigious race for him. Six weeks later, the pair again teamed up for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival and the pair forged clear in the straight to record an even easier success, prompting rapturous scenes of celebration in the winners enclosure. At the conclusion of the season, Mullins finished comfortably ahead of Nina Carberry in the race for the Qualified Riders Championship with no less than 31 winners to his name.
Another Dominant Year
With Willie Mullins proving even more dominant than usual in bumpers, 2008/9 was another highly-successful year for Patrick. He rode over 30 individual bumper winners, but once again it was perhaps his partnership with Cousin Vinny that has proved the highlight of his season, this time in novice hurdles. The six-year-old made his hurdling debut in Grade 1 company when lining up for the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse and he acquitted himself very well under a front-running ride from Mullins, finishing 2¼ lengths third to his stable mate Hurricane Fly. Four weeks 
later the pair made no mistake when dropped to maiden company at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and it was a similar story three weeks later when they hacked up in a novice hurdle at Naas. A month later, the pair returned to Grade 1 company for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month and the race was unquestionably the most disappointing one of Mullins’ short career. Sent off the 4/6 favourite, the pair looked to be cantering all over Pandorama on the approach to the last only for Cousin Vinny to stumble on landing and unseat Patrick, who for good measure was run over by a pursuing rival as he regained his feet. He would almost certainly have gained his first Grade 1 win over jumps had he stayed in the saddle and unfortunately he could not gain compensation at either the Cheltenham or Punchestown Festivals. The latter festival did however provide him with a lucrative win in the ITBA EBF National Hunt Fillies Premier Bumper on the Willie Austin-trained Blazing Tempo. At the conclusion of that meeting, Mullins was again crowned Leading Qualified Rider, having ridden no less than 50 winners, 21 more than Nina Carberry.
A Battle For The Championship
2009/10 was a case of more of the same for Patrick Mullins, as while his father was not as dominant a year in the bumper division as has become the norm, he provided Patrick with a steady stream of winners. His Uncle Tom also pitched in, providing Patrick with four individual winners. While he failed to win a big-race winner during the course of the campaign, the focus was very much on retaining his Champion Amateur title. In what was a very hard-fought battle with Nina Carberry, Mullins emerged on top by a margin of just two winners, having ridden a total of 45 during the campaign.
On The Road For A Fourth Title
While 2010/11 was not one of Willie Mullins’ stronger years in terms of bumper performers, that didn’t stopped Patrick Mullins riding plenty of winners. His most notable partner during the course of the campaign was Samain, on whom he won all three of his starts including the valuable Rockview Irish National Hunt Flat Race at the Curragh in April. While there is a chance that he could well record his lowest tally of winners since 2007/8, Mullins’ tally will almost certainly be sufficient to see him crowned Champion Amateur once again.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated May 2011
