Documentary reveals Paddy Mullins’ woe

The trainer of the legendary Dawn Run never put another horse in her stable after the legendary mare tragically died at the height of her fame.

A documentary on the extraordinary life of her late trainer Paddy Mullins shines the light on the machinations behind her unsurpassed run on the track and the racing dynasty which helped to make her the ultimate champion.

The legendary Irish mare made history as the only racehorse ever to complete the double of winning the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham 30 years ago.

But the fairytale ended in tragedy when eight-year-old Dawn Run fell and broke her neck running in a hurdle race on the request of formidable owner Charmian Hill despite the deep misgivings of her Kilkenny trainer.

Maureen Mullins told a documentary that will be shown on RTÉ tonight that her husband Paddy, who died in 2010, was heartbroken by the much-loved horse’s fatal fall at the Auteuil in the French Champion Hurdle in the summer of 1986.

She said: “None of us could be consoled that day. I walked a little bit across and then I saw Paddy making the sign of the cross and I thought ‘that’s the end of it’ and I turned back.

“Paddy was very depressed for a long time when he came back and saw her empty stable. He never put another horse in it.”

Paddy Mullins – The Great Stayer will be shown on RTÉ One at 10.45pm tonight.