Jockey Mullins makes winning return for holiday

Champion Amateur Jockey Patrick Mullins returned from a holiday to win the Drogheda Traders Plate (QR) Handicap at Bellewstown today on his father Willie Mullins' Diamond Hill

Diamond Hill was returning from a break of her own having pulled up on her latest start in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last December and today edged past Party Playboy inside the final furlong before scoring a head win.

Runner-up Party Playboy's rider Luke McGuinness carried 2lbs overweight at 10st.

Following the race jockey Mullins “I only got back from a holiday in South Africa this morning and had to lose 6lbs so I said turning in if I have to push from the top of the straight then I’m not going to get home whatever about the horse!

“She showed a good turn of foot in Galway over a mile and a half, and I was banking on her having more of a turn of foot than the others.

“The plan wasn’t to be that far back but she fell out of the stalls and didn’t really handle the track — it’s very ridgey. It’s strange because she went around Galway so well.

“I wanted to get over the road before I pulled my stick because I didn’t want to get her unbalanced. She was very tough and my mother bred her.

“She was a bit disappointing over hurdles so maybe this year with her confidence back she may go for a maiden hurdle in Galway. The Mees are very lucky owners for us, and Michael is very in touch with the game. He picked out this race and he might have known being an amateur race that I would agree with him!”

Quotes from Alan Magee