Relief as Gaillard Du Mesnil saves me from a proper bollocking - but I kinda wanted more
The top amateur rider looks back on his dramatic week at Cheltenham
Sorry if this comes across rushed but the Racing Post needed it in by Monday lunchtime and we spent Friday night celebrating Brian Hayes’s first festival winner in Cheltenham, flew home Saturday morning to ride at Thurles before stopping off at Paul Townend’s party in Kilkenny and I had a play to do on Sunday night followed by riding out and racing Monday morning. So, this will be quick. (The play is a long story. There were no auditions and it was held in a hall not a theatre. A story for another time).
The week started badly with Facile Vega getting turned over in the Supreme. Marine Nationale was the better horse on the day to my eye, and what a ride from Michael O’Sullivan. Diverge and I managed to sneak into the race, steal some third-place prize-money and get back into the top enclosure.
Coming in after the race I was summoned to the stewards' room. I’d actually felt weird in the finish, worried about my stick technique and was wondering what I had done wrong. It turned out they wanted to caution Rachael Blackmore for lying in on my horse ever so slightly. Phew.
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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
- Drama at the Obstacle Anglais and a trip to the Infirmerie - it's just another Monday in Clairefontaine
- You’re Rachael Blackmore. You were relieved to get just one pro winner, you had to go up and down stairs on your hands and bum. But you did it all