Paddy Mullins trained Dawn Run to Cheltenham Festival glory

Legendary Irish trainer Paddy Mullins has died, aged 91.

The father of current trainers Tom, Willie and Tony Mullins, he had huge success on the Flat and over jumps.

He is best known for saddling the mare Dawn Run, the only horse to have won the Champion Hurdle (1984) and the Gold Cup (1986) at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins tasted Classic glory with Vintage Tipple in the 2003 Irish Oaks and also saddled Hurry Harriet to win the 1973 Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

He trained at Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, from where his son, Tom, assumed control when Mullins retired from training in February, 2005.

YOUR TRIBUTES ON 606 RIP Paddy, a true horseman and a gent dylanthomas_arc_2007

Mullins' first winner was Flash Parade, who landed the La Touche Cup at Punchestown in April, 1953.

Other notable winners included Galway Plate heroes Nearly A Moose (2003) and Boro Quarter (1986), while he enjoyed plenty of success at the Cheltenham Festival.

Herring Gull was the trainer's first Festival winner when he landed what is now the RSA Chase in 1968. The same horse won the Irish Grand National that year.

Archive - Dawn Run wins 1986 Gold Cup

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