Willie Mullins hopes UK amateur jockey ban is lifted for Cheltenham

Willie Mullins has his hopes pinned on a late change of heart by the British government that might allow amateur jockeys like his son, Patrick, to compete at the Cheltenham Festival next month. While the trainer hopes to bring his usual strong team of runners to the race-meeting, despite the twin problems of Brexit and Covid-19, his team of jockeys is not at its strongest, following the ban on amateurs and the recent surprise retirement of his nephew, David.

“It was another surprise,” the top Irish trainer said of the news that amateur jockeys cannot compete in British racing for the time being. “But we’re getting used to those in these pandemic times.

“I’m hoping that something can be done because we have six weeks to go before then. Hopefully, the figures on both sides of the Irish Sea will be better and governments will be looking at things differently. That’s the best we can hope for at this stage.

“Certainly, Patrick would be a top member on our team riding at Cheltenham. He’d have half a dozen nice rides, especially with David after retiring, that puts him in for a lot more. He’s a top guy to have on your team over there.”

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Patrick has four Festival wins to his name, most recently aboard Rathvinden in the National Hunt Chase of 2018. He had a frustrating time at last year’s Festival, finishing runner-up four times, including aboard Melon, who was beaten a nose by Samcro in the Marsh Novice Chase.

“It’s very unfair on the top English amateurs, too,” Mullins Sr continued. “There’s some guys there, Sam Waley-Cohen and Will Biddick, who finished second to Patrick in the four-mile chase there a few years ago. There’s some top amateurs there and they look forward to Cheltenham like everyone else does.

“I haven’t fully read through the protocol that is ongoing to keep them out because I feel that maybe the thing might shift about in a month’s time or six weeks’ time and there might be a chance they might get back to ride in the Festival. But I’m sure Patrick and the other amateurs will be doing their best and we’ll be doing our best to help.”

Asked if he expected to have a smaller, more select team of runners in view of the travel difficulties facing runners from Ireland at this year’s Festival, Mullins replied: “I hope not. We’re making arrangements to have things in place, ready to bring our usual team. But until we see what rules and regulations are going to be in play, all we can do is prepare to do the usual stuff.

“The shipping side I’m leaving to my brother [GEORGE], he’s well capable of all that. I tend not to get too bogged down in it because the whole scenario could change in a month’s time or six weeks’ time. At least that’s what we hope, anyhow.”

Mullins was speaking at an online press conference to promote this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, at which he will field favourites in several top-class races, including Chacun Pour Soi in Saturday’s Dublin Chase.

Amateur jockeys were ruled out of competition a fortnight ago, as racing’s rulers moved to comply with the latest government guidance on control of Covid-19. Amateurs are regarded as part of grassroots sport and do not therefore benefit from the permission to continue that elite sport enjoys. - Guardian