Danny Mullins delighted to play 'super-sub' role as he triumphs in bet365 Gold Cup thriller on Minella Cocooner

Willie Mullins may have already settled the race for the trainers' title but he commenced his victory lap in style when Minella Cocooner battled to success in the bet365 Gold Cup. 

While Paul Townend sealed the title with his runner-up finish on El Fabiolo in the Celebration Chase, Mullins' first victory as a newly crowned champion came courtesy of Danny Mullins, whose narrow win over Freddie Gordon on Annual Invictus marked yet another valuable contribution to his uncle's British campaign following victory with Macdermott in last week's Scottish National. 

"I'm just a small part in Willie's success but I'm delighted to be there," the winning jockey said. "There's a fantastic team at home all through the year and I'm lucky enough to get the leg up when Paul is elsewhere or when there's a couple of runners, it's just great to be a part of it. 

"I'm always trying to put myself to be in a position to be a big-race jockey and I've been very lucky for a number of years to be riding regular Grade 1 winners. You have to keep the hard work going so you can dine at the top table, and thankfully it's worked out again today."

Annual Invictus and Minella Cocooner are locked in battle up the Sandown hillCredit: Alan Crowhurst

With just one ride on the card following the withdrawal of Gold Dancer in the last, Mullins had the luxury of walking the track during the first race but his sedate start to the day was made decidedly more tricky by the beginning of the feature handicap, when a standing start left him trailing towards the rear of the field. 

"Plans went out the window," Mullins said. "He'd been quite keen in some of his early races, so at the standing start I couldn't rush him early and I was out of the picture. 

"Thankfully Willie wouldn't have been able to see me there to give out, but he always instils in us to keep riding to win even if plans change, just adjust and ride to the best of our ability, and it came together nicely in the end." 

Mullins may have feared criticism but he received nothing but praise from the winning trainer, who was opening his account at the jumps season finale ahead of Impaire Et Passe's success in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle. 

"For my nephew Danny to ride, it was special, especially after what he did last week in Ayr," said Willie Mullins. 

Danny Mullins celebrates following his first victory at Sandown on Minella CocoonerCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He gave the horse a tremendous ride, he was doing the right thing going down the back, got him balanced and travelling and got two tremendous jumps over the last two fences.

"Danny is our super-sub, he has been fantastic for us all season so congratulations to Danny and to my owners too for letting me come here rather than Punchestown." 

Minella Cocooner finished a neck ahead of the 20-1 runner-up Annual Invictus for the father-son team of Chris and Freddie Gordon and over two lengths clear of Nick Rockett, who added to Mullins' impressive British prize-money haul by finishing third under Townend.

Read more:

'Genius' Willie Mullins makes history as first Irish trainer to win British championship for 70 years 

Jonbon dominates Celebration Chase to maintain perfect record at Sandown 

Impaire Et Passe downs Langer Dan as rampant Mullins storms clear of Skelton - jumps finale as it happened 

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