Incredible Willie Mullins drama as he kicks son Patrick off huge ride at the last minute
WHO needs horses when Willie Mullins provides incredible drama with his jockey bookings?
The Closutton boss decided on a jaw-dropping last-minute rider switch that saw his son Patrick kicked off a huge ride.
Trainers had to confirm their jockeys for Sunday’s Dublin Racing Festival action by the noon deadline.
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Minutes before that, Mullins had put son Patrick on Rich Ricci’s awesome grey mare Lossiemouth for the Irish Champion Hurdle, for which she is odds-on fav.
This came after it was confirmed Paul Townend would ride State Man.
That meant Willie’s nephew Danny was given the ride on Daddy Long Legs – until Danny was then mysteriously booked for both Daddy Long Legs and Lossiemouth.
With just seconds to go until the deadline, though, Willie performed a dramatic U-turn.
Amateur rider Patrick’s name now appeared next to Winter Fog, who Rachael Blackmore’s boyfriend Brian Hayes had originally been booked to ride.
While Sean O’Keeffe was the jockey tasked with riding outsider Daddy Long Legs.
The astonishing late switch-up means Danny will have a huge shot at Grade 1 glory on Ricci’s 8-13 fav.
Townend will hope the defending Champion Hurdle king can defy 13-8 odds after flopping completely at Christmas.
While Patrick goes from the ride on the odds-on jolly to steering unfancied 16-1 chance Winter Fog.
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