Willie Mullins has caused a stir at the Dublin Racing Festival with a series of dramatic last-minute jockey changes ahead of Sunday’s racing.
The Closutton trainer made several unexpected switches just moments before the noon deadline for confirming rider bookings.
In a stunning turn of events, Mullins removed his son Patrick from the ride on odds-on favourite Lossiemouth, creating a chain reaction of changes across his entries.
The eleventh-hour reshuffle saw multiple jockey bookings altered, with some changes made with mere seconds remaining before the cut-off point.
Willie Mullins has caused a stir at the Dublin Racing Festival with a series of dramatic last-minute jockey changes ahead of Sunday’s racing
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The reshuffling began when Patrick Mullins was initially given the ride on Rich Ricci’s grey mare Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
This prime booking was short-lived, as Patrick was subsequently switched to Winter Fog, a 16-1 outsider previously assigned to Brian Hayes.
The dramatic change saw Danny Mullins secure the coveted ride on Lossiemouth, who enters the race as the 8-13 favourite.
The switch represented a significant change in fortunes for Patrick Mullins, moving from piloting the odds-on favourite to partnering a long-shot contender in the same race.
Willie Mullins will be hoping for success at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend
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The sequence of events leading to the deadline revealed multiple changes in quick succession.
Paul Townend was first confirmed to retain his partnership with State Man.
This initial confirmation triggered a series of moves, with Danny Mullins temporarily booked for both Daddy Long Legs and Lossiemouth.
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The confusion was resolved in the final moments before the deadline.
Brian Hayes lost his ride on Winter Fog to Patrick Mullins.
Sean O’Keeffe was drafted in to partner the outsider Daddy Long Legs.
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The final outcome sees Danny Mullins taking the prime position aboard Lossiemouth, the 8-13 favourite for the Irish Champion Hurdle.
Paul Townend partners State Man, who despite flopping at Christmas, stands as second favourite at 13-8.
Patrick Mullins, in perhaps the most dramatic change of fortune, moves to the 16-1 outsider Winter Fog.
The reshuffle gives Danny Mullins a significant opportunity for Grade 1 glory on Rich Ricci’s mare.
State Man, the defending Champion Hurdle winner, looks to bounce back from his disappointing Christmas performance under Townend.