Count on Ruby to put mild Mullins spat into context

IT says much about the standing of racing in this country these days that the festive family friction between Patrick Mullins and his cousin Danny Mullins generated more back-page headlines this week than the actual racing.

We’d seen Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs back to his best, absolutely routing his rivals in the Savills Chase, the highlight of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, but in terms of coverage, that performance had to play second fiddle to what went on at the end of a Limerick novice chase on Thursday.

Patrick, annoyed by Danny’s decision to go for a gap up his inside approaching the second-last fence, engaged in a finger-wagging lecture after the post.

Afterwards, he expanded on the incident: ‘I told Danny there will be a gap on my inside going to the second-last and not to go for it. He didn’t listen to me. Luckily, he didn’t get the two of us beaten,’ Patrick said.

The following day on RTÉ’s racing coverage, presenter Jane Mangan asked Ruby Walsh, why would Danny listen to Patrick? As a man who works for and alongside Willie and Patrick Mullins in their Closutton yard, would Ruby dodge the question, football manager style? No chance.

‘He wouldn’t, he didn’t and he shouldn’t.

It’s not a gallop in Closutton, it’s a racecourse, every man for himself,’ said Walsh.

‘As regards what Patrick was saying, I don’t know. I haven’t asked him but I know when I was riding Yorkhill and I was lining up at the start, I would say to the lads around me, “This (horse) is going to go left”.

‘So you can line up on my inside if you want but I will be going left’. I’m not in control of it, but you would mark people’s cards. But Danny was right, I wouldn’t have listened to Patrick either, go away, do you think you own the place?’

He also pointed out that as champion amateur, Patrick should have behaved better.

‘It’s not always easy, I’m sure he regrets it, but you can’t (wag the finger at another jockey). He’s champion amateur and he’s setting an example, (that’s) not allowed.’

Irish racing is a fairly claustrophobic world, so it’s refreshing to hear Walsh speak his mind but it is of a piece with the man – forthright and firm in his views. And it’s hard to argue with his common-sense approach.

Walsh is also an exceptional pundit, with forensic attention to detail, and you’ll always learn something listening to him.

What more can you ask for from sports punditry?