Why Willie Mullins should be treasured

There is this little kid from suburban Northside Dublin who somehow arrived at seven years of age still preferring National Hunt racing to soccer, GAA or rugby.

This was surprising as his family have no heritage or investments in the sport, it was just a fascination that developed from watching his father fretting over lucky fifteens in front of Channel Four on cold wet winter Saturdays.

Every so often the father would cave in to his pestering and take him racing.