The G2 National Hunt Chase at next week's Cheltenham Festival will be run in honour of the late Maureen Mullins, who died last month at the age of 94.
The move, which was announced by Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday, was welcomed by her son Tony, who said, “Undoubtedly the correct race for a great stayer.”
The matriarch of a hugely successful Irish racing dynasty, Mullins's late husband Paddy saddled six Festival winners, including one of the greatest National Hunt mares of all time, Dawn Run (Ire), who remains the only horse ever to win both the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup, in 1984 and 1986 respectively.
A successful rider, owner and breeder herself, Mullins's five children have also had a huge impact on the Cheltenham Festival. Her son Willie is the winningmost trainer with 94 winners to his name, while his brothers Tony and Tom have also also saddled winners at the Festival, and grandsons Patrick, Danny and Emmet have all ridden Festival winners.
“The National Hunt Chase has a long tradition of commemorating some of jump racing's most famous names and we are delighted that the Mullins family has agreed to have the historic contest run in honour of Maureen Mullins in 2024,” said Ian Renton, Managing Director, West, The Jockey Club.
“A true stalwart of jump racing, Maureen Mullins was a regular visitor to the Festival and her sad passing last month leaves a big void. We hope that putting her name to the National Hunt Chase celebrates her tremendous legacy in the appropriate way.”
Willie Mullins added, “Our family are delighted and honoured to have a race named after our mother Maureen who had a great affinity for Cheltenham and enjoyed every moment there.”
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