Patrick Mullins: a moment that I will never forget

Hot writer of the, racing writer of the year award winner, well done Patrick. Yeah very cool, magic, a huge surprise and a bigger honour. Some of the names on that list, I've been going to that lunch with Mike Vince for the last 10 or 12 years and we're looking at some of the great and the good to get up on stage, so one of the biggest proudest moments of my life yeah. And were you a little bit surprised when you were nominated for the award? I was to be fair, look I'm very much a part-time writer you know, I get to write when I want about what I want. That was very enjoyable I must say. I appreciate that but I do get to, you know, I get to write under different circumstances than probably anyone else so, but I enjoy doing it and to get recognition for it is magic and thanks to David Cleary and David Carr who run the show and a moment I won't forget. Were you slightly surprised when your name was called out as the winner? I was, I was very surprised. You're meant to have written a speech if you were a nominee but I just said oh sure there's no chance of me winning it so I think I didn't say anything too wrong up on stage anyway. You're well able to handle it. It was great, it was great and you know Bob Cooper was up before me getting a lifetime achievement award and he was fantastic to listen to. It's a great day, great evening and you know I went for lunch with Alistair Down the day after last year and obviously he's not around this year but I'm sure he's having a long lunch in the sky somewhere. Definitely, sadly, very well said. Back to more mundane matters shall we say. Set a chance as workman like. Yeah I didn't get to hang around and live in London and celebrate last night to come and lose three pounds riding this fella so it was worth it. I was a bit worried coming down the hill and Derek was handling better than me. He's moving from the outside and pushing me in probably on the worst ground and behind horses but once I found a bit of daylight down the second last he's taken off. His jumping needs a little bit of work. I'd like to hope there's a lot of improvement there. And obviously trip wise he's just there in the making isn't he? Yeah he's not quick, you know he ran well in Navon. I'd imagine three miles would be no problem for him. Good stuff, he should be hard to beat in the next one as well. Nearly a year ago on that grade 2, the Calicante won at Leopards on a Christmas. Serious run, you were in Cargagia, we were all there. I can't ride Camaro's with the weights. She'd come into the conversation. I hadn't a choice because of the weights but I would have to do a little bit of thinking. It'll be an interesting race. Hey, you're worried about yourself aren't you? I am, yeah. She's good at high form, mass marathon filly. She goes well at home. I'm just hoping that the fact that my fella has a year's training in our place last year under his belt might just give him the advantage. Good stuff, good start to the day and best of luck in the next. Thanks very much. Flags are raised and they're off. 12 flights of hurdles in all to be jumped in this two mile three furling contest as they race towards the first diamond approach and C'est ta chance are the first two to show in front. Following third on the inside by Honky Tonk as they make the right-handed swing to bring them uphill towards flight number two. C'est ta chance and Paddy Mullins moving up on the outside to join issue with diamond approach and Honky Tonk over flight number two. They're further than fourth as they all stream out over the first two flights by Jump Alain who's length in front of Moonshine Ranger as they jump flight number three. And behind Moonshine Ranger as they race downhill on the outside is Harry's Dream under Fidelma Elvin. Towards the inside race is Park Rules and they're a length of two in front of Only Mammy Can Love Me who's followed over that fourth flight by Je Suis and What's Another Year between those two races Sheriff Hill. And there are a couple lengths in front of the chasing group headed by Dunaney Point and Hills of Glory. So they've jumped the three flights in the black straight and beginning or continuing the descent to bring them towards the turn of the straight for the first time having jumped the first four flights. On the inside Diamond Approach taking a keen tug as the pace has just steadied a little bit. C'est ta chance with between those two races Honky Tonk. They're further than fourth as they make the run towards the straight by Harry's Dream who in turn is three to four lengths in front of Jump Alain who's on the outside of Moonshine Ranger and Park Rules. A couple of lengths in front of Only Mammy Can Love Me with behind those races the McManus Silks of What's Another Year under Derek O'Connor. Next in the field then in the white sleeves on the inside is Je Suis who's followed by the Diamond Jacket of Sheriff Hill. Behind Sheriff Hill or upside Sheriff Hill is Hills of Glory followed then by Dunaney Point and quiet runs the Don as they jump the first of the two flights and straight awkward jump on the inside by Diamond Approach but still disputes the lead with Honky Tonk as they jump the flight which will last in a circuit sign better jump there by Diamond Approach. Honky Tonk a slight mistake on the outer. These two have gone on by some three to four lengths now over C'est ta chance who runs in third. Four is Harry's Dream followed in five by Park Rules. A couple of lengths then to Only Mammy Can Love Me who's followed by Moonshine Ranger. Behind Moonshine Ranger is Jump Alain on the outside who's lost his pitch and is dropping back a little bit through the field. Upside that one races Sheriff Hill. They're followed by Watson of the Year who's on the outside of Hills of Glory. Next in the field then Dunaney Point as they jump the first flight on the final circuit and a good jump on the inside by the leader Diamond Approach. Slight mistake by Honky Tonk and quickly is ridden by rider Owen Staples. Moving up on the inside is Park Rules in the hands of Luke Bourke-Ott. They're followed with Harry's Dream on that one's outside. They're followed three to four lengths back now by C'est ta chance who's gone back into four for Paddy Mullins. Five behind those is Only Mammy Can Love Me and Troy Walsh as they jump the fifth last flight. There are a few lengths in front of the chasing group who are headed by Moonshine Ranger with Jump Alain on the outside of that one. The inside is Yesui who's trying to make a headway ahead of Sheriff Hill and behind that is Watson of the Year. They've jumped the middle flight in the back straight and heading towards the third last flight and it's Diamond Approach the leader for Shane Butler. Leads by three lengths. Park Rules moving into second. On the third on the outside of that races Harry's Dream. There are a couple of lengths in front of Only Mammy Can Love Me who's gone four on the inside of C'est ta chance and five. C'est ta chance took a chance of that and being ridden for a few strides after that by Patrick Mullins. They're followed by Watson of the Year who's making ground on the outside for Derek O'Connor next in the field and behind that is Jump Alain on the outside of Moonshine Ranger. But they've done all the jumping in the back straight and heading downhill towards the turn into the straight. Two flights left to jump when they swing in and the lead is with Diamond Approach from Only Mammy Can Love Me who's now moving to the second. Third on the outside is Harry's Dream. They're followed by Park Rules who's poking his nose through. C'est ta chance is not done within five. On that one's outside is Watson of the Year. As they swing in two and a half furlongs after racing two flights left to jump. Diamond Approach finding a bit more on the inside. Leads now by a length again from Only Mammy Can Love Me. Park Rules between them. They're followed towards the outside by both Harry's Dream and the travelling Watson of the Year who comes there strongly on the outside for Derek O'Connor. C'est ta chance gets a split one off the rail as they head inside the final two furlongs and down towards the second last flight. It's Watson of the Year who's come through on the outside to lead. As they head down between the final two flights C'est ta chance is responding well on the far side and at the last C'est ta chance and Patrick Mullins land a length or so in front of a mistaken second by Watson of the Year back in third. Only Mammy Can Love Me but racing up towards the finish. C'est ta chance going to stay on well to win this for Paddy and Willie Mullins. C'est ta chance from Watson of the Year in second. Could be a close call for third yet. Only Mammy Can Love Me holds on to that head of Chausuy and jump Alan. Watch live racing now on RacingTV.com