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'I never dial myself down, so when I ride I still put on my mascara' - Patrick Mullins meets Aine O'Connor
The two top amateur riders in conversation on the way to ride at Ballinrobe
She’s beautiful. Caught your attention? She tends to do that.
Aine O’Connor turns heads and catches eyes the way birds fly and fish swim. Without even thinking. Think Fleur Delacour. I debated whether to make any reference to it but certain things make up who and what you are.
And that’s one part of O'Connor but not the part I’m here to talk about. I’ve been riding for nearly 20 years and I can name every amateur in Ireland who has lost their claim in that time. I can count the women who’ve done it on one hand. Katie Walsh, Nina Carberry, Lisa O’Neill, Jody Townend, and now O’Connor.
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Published on inInterviews
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- 'I don't want to be part of this narrative that Irish trainers are better than us - I think that's rubbish, it drives me nuts'
- 'I don't even know what day of the week it is - I'd love a day off but racing is so relentless that you can't do it'
- 'I didn't realise how famous he was!' - meet the grandson of a sporting legend now transforming a famous old yard
- 'The grief hits me quite a lot - so many people think I'm really tough but I get terribly upset by things inwardly'
- 'I've invested quite a lot of money and I'm going to give it a proper go' - meet the drinks tycoon determined to make his mark