See also » Fire-burns-bright-for-Mullins-in-County-
He had top weight but he had it for a reason and I went out with the mindset to ride him like the best horse, and thankfully it paid off. Donagh (Meyler, on Wakea) had a big lead but it's very hard to do round here, you don't get that much of a lead without doing a hell of a lot. At that stage I had no choice but to drop in, there was nothing I could do about it. It's a bit of a surprise for me, I fancied our other one, Renneti, as he'd been working well at home and I thought Arctic Fire could be a social runner!. But he's a class horse on his day, even with top weight he'd been dropped 6lb. He pulled so hard going down Paul dropped him right in, lucky enough he got a clear passage on the outside. It's fantastic for Paul and Nick Peacock, the owner. He chipped a bone when I was getting him ready for last year's Champion Hurdle and he has joint trouble all the time, he's a bit like me getting out of bed on a morning. Donal, who rides him at home all the time, knows him inside out and he tells me when he's right or not. W P Mullins, trainer

a handicap hurdle for 5-Y-Os and upwards
Penalties - after February 28, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb.