David Mullins (jockey)

David James Mullins (born 6 June 1996) is a National Hunt jockey. He is the son of Tom Mullins and grandson of Paddy Mullins. He is one of the retained jockeys for his uncle, the multiple Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins.^[1]

Career

David Mullins became involved with horse racing at the age of 15^[2] and quickly gained notoriety in only his second year of riding at 19 years old when he was still claiming a 3 pounds allowance as a conditional jockey. In that first part of the 2015/16 National Hunt campaign he recorded his first major successes for his uncle Willie Mullins, initially winning a Grade 2 event on board of Devis Bride ^[3] and shortly thereafter obtained his first Grade 1 victory when taking the Morgiana Hurdle in a tactical affair on board of Nichols Canyon, producing the surprise of the season by defeating the champion hurdler Faugheen who was unbeaten at the time.^[4] During the same season he continued to win more Graded races for other trainers such as Ms Sandra Hughes and Pat A. Fahy and culminated with a victory for Mouse Morris in the most valuable race of the Jumps calendar, the 2016 Grand National at only his first attempt, giving a patient ride to Rule The World,^[5] a horse which had never previously won a steeplechase.^[6] He became one of the youngest jockeys ever to win the race and declared: →"It's a weird feeling, you don't really believe it" →"I beat Faugheen on Nichols Canyon but I think this tops that".^[7] The only younger jockey to claim the Grand National was the 17-year-old Bruce Hobbs back in 1938.^[8]

References

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