Follow me up to Carlow

Jim Bolger and Willie Mullins are very different in many ways. One had no racing background and forged his reputation on the flat circuit, while the other is steeped in the Sport of Kings and is one of the world’s pre-eminent handlers of national hunt horses.

Yet they have much in common too. Bolger has enjoyed plenty of success over jumps, as has Mullins on the level. The latter spent two years in the employ of the former – a mutually-beneficial exercise by all accounts. And it was from Bolger that Mullins purchased the highly-promising filly, Annie Power for Rich Ricci.

Imagine what pearls would emanate from a relaxed conversation between the two?