Paddy Mullins: a brilliant trainer whose passing marks the end of an era

When I was a kid growing up with a huge interest in horses, there was one man you looked up to. That was Paddy Mullins. And as I grew older and competed internationally in eventing and became a trainer myself, that respect never lessened. If anything, it grew as you got to know him.

You always realised what a brilliant man Paddy was but reading the papers yesterday as they listed his achievements after his sad passing at the age of 91, I still found myself amazed.

Winning the Champion Stakes as far back as 1973 with Hurry Harriet and then winning the Irish Oaks 30 years later with Vintage Tipple, he seemed to be around forever.