Patrick Mullins was back in action, heading to Fairyhouse just 24 hours after his Grand National triumph on Nick Rockett's horse.
The decorated amateur was part of the famous Aintree revival for the Mullins family, with his father Willie training not only the winner but also the second, third, fifth and seventh placed finishers.
It was a truly emotional day but Patrick did not shy away from his Sunday commitments and returned to Ireland to ride the 11-4 favourite Future Prospect in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Total Enjoyment Mares INH Flat Race.
He could only finish third as Ross O'Sullivan's Switch From Diesel team won 3-1, but nothing could dampen Mullins' spirits after a career-defining win in Liverpool.
“We didn't fly out last night. We returned home this morning and came straight here,” he said.
“I'll go home tonight and watch it (the National) five or six times. I crossed the line and I didn't even celebrate, the only thing I could do was smile.
“I've read about it and watched it since I was a kid. I watched Red Rum, Crisp and then of course David and Emmett (Mullins, cousins) won it, so it was great to get even with them anyway. I'm sure Danny (Mullins, also his cousin) will have his day.”
“It was incredible, everything I dreamed of and more. It was one of those races that I can't describe how well it went. He jumped superbly, no one made a mistake around me or ran into me on the canal turn.
“When I landed in front, at the end of the second-to-last, I said, 'Oh, balls.' If he had passed me, I would have been blaming myself, but he didn't, thank God!”
Elsewhere on the map Iransi left Cheltenham in his wake with a comfortable win in the Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle.
The seven-year-old was one of the few to fail to make an impact at the Cheltenham Festival for Mullins or owner JP McManus, finishing seventh in the Michael O'Sullivan Novices' Hurdle.
He returned to Class 2 level and made amends to finish a length and a half behind Mark Walsh at 5-1.
Sport Ulster out of Champions Cup on goalscoring… Read more
Frank Berry, McManus' racing manager, commented: “It was a good performance, he (Walsh) said he jumped superbly and the surface was right for him.
“He said he was much more satisfied today, it just didn't happen for him at Cheltenham. It all hurt him a bit and he didn't
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
