Patrick Mullins rides 900th winner aboard Jimmy Du Seuil Patrick Mullins partnered his 900th career winner as Jimmy Du Seuil put in a fine round of jumping to make an impressive start over fences in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse. The 35-year-old has been champion amateur jockey a record 17 times and his many big race successes include nine winners at the Cheltenham Festival and a memorable victory aboard Nick Rockett in the Randox Grand National at Aintree in April. “It’s fantastic. I was at the Peter O’Sullevan lunch during the week, and I met Stan Mellor’s wife Elain who told me Stan was the first to get to 1,000 and he rode his last ever winner for my grandfather on Herring Gull in the Prix des Drags,” said the star amateur. “I wanted to have more winners than Willie and he had 340 or 350 so we have done that anyway! “I’m 35 and Willie rode till he was 40 and Derek (O’Connor) is 43 so hopefully I have a few more years. Hopefully I can get to 1,000.” Jimmy Du Seuil has been very lightly raced in the past 18 months and was last seen winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The 15/8 favourite made all here in this extended 2m5f event and, after travelling well early in the straight, was ridden to assert on the run-in for a four lengths verdict over The Big Westerner. The pair stretched 18 lengths clear of Jacob’s Ladder in third. Patrick Mullins added, “He jumped brilliant, and it looks like he might even be a better chaser than he was a hurdler. “He beat them easily. Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus got beat in this beginners’ chase and Impaire Et Passe won it. “We always thought he was a Grade 1 horse and hopefully he can make into one. “When Danny and Paul were away, I thought I better ride one of them. I have to apologise to Brian Hayes for nicking it on him, I thought he stood out.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
