Mullins the 1st amateur to win Galway Hurdle in 27 years

Patrick Mullins became the first Galway Hurdle winning amateur rider since Philip Fenton on Sagaman in 1991 when steering his father Willie's Sharjah to success in the Guiness-backed Ladies Day highlight at Ballybrit.

The Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned 12/1 shot led home stable companion Blazer at a distance of three lengths.

It was a hat-trick on the day for Mullins, after earlier wins for Minella Beau (Ruby Walsh) and Calie Du Mesnil (David Mullins).

The Closutton score for Galway 2018 now stands at eight.

English raiders Leoncavallo and Bedrock filled the third and fourth positions in the Galway Hurdle.

Sharjah led early, and then he tracked the leaders on the inner.

Fifth halfway, he made headway when not fluent two out.

From there the son of Doctor Dino made progress to lead early on the run-in, and ridden he kept on well to defeat stable companion Blazer (mistake at the last).

"It was extraordinary - I couldn't believe it - he got a brilliant start but I thought it was going to be tough for a top-weight to make all," said Willie Mullins.

"The weights were compressed - the Galway Hurdle is so valuable nowadays - and I thought our bottom-weight Max Dynamite had such a good chance but he didn't jump, Ruby said he missed the first and once again he fluffed his jumping lines.

"Patrick was fantastic. I thought he was gone halfway up the back. Then I thought Blazer had it won going to the last.

"Mark (Walsh) said he just landed on all fours and Patrick just got a run and flew. He wasn't waiting around.

"I took my eyes off of Sharjah when I thought he was beaten halfway up the back and then going to the second last I thought Blazer and maybe Paul (Townend) was going to come into it on Good Thyne Tara

"I didn't realise Patrick was going so well as I was watching the other two. Coming to the last then I said Blazer will win and Patrick will be second.

"Next thing bang - he just got the jump - and it's a little bit of compensation for missing the Grade One - when he fell at the last in front at Leopardstown.

"I'm not sure if it's compensation for Patrick for not winning the amateur race here but he'll just have to put up with that.

"We'd wondered whether we'd let Sharjah off for the summer and in fact my plan was to go Flat racing with him. However I wasn't happy with his mark and I abandoned that plan which has worked out nicely now.

"Patrick is a different league to me as an amateur. For his size and weight it's a serious commitment.

"Every morning he wakes up he's probably eleven seven or eleven eight and that's when he's minding himself.

"If he goes away for a weekend or on holiday he comes back heavier. I wouldn't live on what he survives on for a day.

"To have such role models as Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh for the younger generation of jockeys - I see a huge difference - I mean our role models were fellas that didn't go down that line!

"It shows the importance of good role models. Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh are two guys that all the younger lads look up to and the younger generation are much more professional now. The sport is much better for it.

"I asked Patrick if he wanted to ride in the Galway hurdle. He said the only one I can ride is Sharjah (at the weights) so I said right that's done.

"I put Ruby on the wrong one. Danny said he got into all sorts of trouble on Whiskey Sour too.

"As regards Sharjah now I don't know whether it'll be the Flat or the Champion Hurdle route."

"It's absolutely magic. It was all very simple today compared to yesterday," said Patrick Mullins.

"It was just one of those races where everything happened as it should.

"We got a great break, he jumped great, travelled great, we got a clear run and all I'm thinking is just don't get there too soon and don't deck him at the last like Leopardstown at Christmas.

"It's just taken him a while to get over his fall and hopefully that makes up for him having it."

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iii), the Stewards allowed Plinth trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iii), the Stewards allowed Project Bluebook (FR), trained by John Quinn (in GB), to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

The Stewards fined Gordon Elliott, trainer, €65 for failing to fit blinkers to Cartwright (GB), prior to entering the parade ring.

D.N. Russell, rider of The Game Changer trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up after his saddle had slipped.

(GC & EM)