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In my late teens growing up in the suburb of Rathfarnham in Dublin I was part of a circle of friends that numbered around a dozen at its core.
The local pub acted as our clubhouse. We'd meet there several times a week. It wasn't really about the drink, it was all about friendship. One pint was often all any of us could afford and we'd make it last for hours.
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Dad (Paul Mulligan) was a jockey himself, and we always had ponies around the place - I was on them for as long as I can remember. I always rode different ones around the yard for dad. Then when I got a bit older, I started pony racing and I was mad keen to be a jockey. I suppose Colin Keane would have been my idol. He was always around at home because dad used to work for Colin's father Gerry. I always thought that I wanted to do the same as Colin. He would have given me tips on riding when I was pony racing. I was pony racing from about 10 to 16, but I missed a good bit of it with Covid-19. I could have missed two seasons because of that. I rode nine winners I think on ponies. I was only five and a-half stone and dad wouldn't let me ride the horses.
- Soft ground wouldn't have been ideal for RUKAANA at Catterick so he lost little in defeat by finishing second, especially because the winner bolted up subsequently. The Dark Angel gelding gets his ideal conditions this time around and whilst Ben Macey helps to negate a 4lb rise, he is expected to take all the beating. Handicap debutant Lucy The Wire can edge out Kotari and claim the silver medal.
