Mulholland cuts to the chase

NEIL MULHOLLAND has made the transition from journeyman jockey to promising trainer look like a walk in the park. One day he was just another National Hunt rider travelling the country to make a crust.

The next he is preparing a horse with a decent each-way chance for the most sought-after prize in jumps racing, the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. Mulholland has not used his whip in anger since he took out a licence three years ago after riding 120 winners over 12 years and is now fulfilling the dream of being a trainer. Yet he is still only 30.

He served a three-year apprenticeship with Aidan O’Brien, then switched to the National Hunt and, as a freelance jockey, rode winners for a number of trainers, including Eamonn Sheehy, Colm Murphy and Edward O’Grady. In 2004 he came to England and was based with Ferdy Murphy, later becoming stable jockey to Micky Hammond, Alan and Lucy Normile and Sandy Forster.