A magical day at Royal Ascot - and Vauban might just have enough weight for me to ride him in Melbourne now!
Patrick Mullins soaks in the atmosphere on a flying visit for the opening day of this week’s royal meeting
Balls. I’m walking up Ascot High Street when I realise I’ve left my Royal Enclosure badges at home. And the queue for the office looks the length of the Nile.
I’ll do without them, so I join the smaller queue in the owners' and trainers’ tent, only to be told there’s no tickets under my name. Ugh. Luckily, the magical Hermione Fitzgerald sorts me out. She really should change her name to Granger.
I manage to get inside in time for the preamble of trumpets and carriages and pageantry. My parents, Willie and Jackie, are back of the bus in the royal procession. No doubt because Willie was late.
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Published on inPatrick Mullins
Last updated
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- Two great warriors, the centre of the ring, dying seconds of the 12th - now that was a horse race
- No dogs chasing the horses, no trainer favouring telepathy over instructions - riding out for Harry Derham is rather different to Closutton
- Our bid for another jumps title is starting early - and I also think I was riding our next Cheltenham Gold Cup winner last season
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