Paddy Mullins

Paddy Mullins, who died on 28 October at the age of 91, was a racehorse trainer whose career spanned more than 50 years. He is best remembered for training Dawn Run to win the Champion Hurdle (1984) and the Gold Cup (1986) at the Cheltenham Festival, a feat which has yet to be matched.

Mullins also enjoyed huge success on the Flat, tasting Classic glory when Frankie Dettori rode Vintage Tipple to victory in the 2003 Irish Oaks. "I actually stumbled upon the ride as Johnny Murtagh couldn't ride her," Dettori recalled.

"Obviously I had heard of Paddy, but I had never met him until the day. He had a great aura about him and he didn't give me any instructions. He said I'd been riding horses all my life and left it to me. I was very blessed to be part of that day and to have met such a legend."

Mullins also saddled Hurry Harriet to win the 1973 Champion Stakes at Newmarket. His first winner was Flash Parade, who landed the La Touche Cup at Punchestown in April, 1953. He trained at Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, from where his son, Tom, assumed control when Mullins retired from training in 2005.

Mullins is also survived by his wife Maureen, whom he married in 1954, his daughter Sandra McCarthy, who is also a trainer, and another son George, who owns a horse transport business.