Amateur jockey Patrick Mullins has disclosed that he could turn professional to ride at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
It comes as the British Government confirmed amateur ridders were banned from the event due to restrictions imposed by Government on grassroots sports.
It would be recalled that a ruling was made last month, January, that non-professionals would be prevented from competing temporarily because of a surge in cases of Covid-19 infections in the country.
The latest move was made by a COVID-19 steering group of the racing industry, which reviews COVID protocols constantly to determine how horseracing can continue to reinforce its approach.
The steering group said at that time it had come to that conclusion because it is in line with British Government restrictions around the precision of elite sport and the associated temporary suspension of sporting activities in the grassroots.
The four-day racing Festival starts on the 16th of March, and in his master plan unveiled earlier in the week for coming out of lockdown, British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson profiled a date of 29th March for the resumption of sports in the grassroots.
Three races at Cheltenham are confined to amateur jockeys – the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase, and the National Hunt Chase, with Stayers Hurdle day set for March 18.
The most successful amateur ride in the history of the sport, Patrick Mullins could have been hoping for a solid book of rides for his dad Willie Mullins, as well asKilcruit in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Sharjah in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, and the Bill away in the hunter chase.
After the government announcement, Mullins has disclosed that he has not dismissed the prospect of switching to professional after amateur jockers were ruled out of March’s festival in Cheltenham.
Mullins, a winner of four Festivals told newsmen he is extremely disappointed with the latest development to rule out amateur riders at Cheltenham.
Asked if he’s considering switching to a higher rank – professional, Mullins said he doesn’t know for now, as he needs to give it a very serious thought as to whether to switch to professional or not.
Amateur Irish jockey Derek O’Connor has also won four festivals and is the most successful Irish point-to-point jockey in history.
He disclosed his obvious disappointment and described it as unfortunate as he hoped to have picked up racing rides in all the amateur classes.
Fellow Irish jockey Jamie Codd numbers 10 wins at the Festival and was scheduled to work alongside Sir Gerhard for Gordon Elliott, said for amateurs to be qualified in Ireland, and the in England, it’s a massive blow.
Cheltenham is a race where many amateur British and Irish riders like to compete and showcase their status, but Codd stressed it’s hugely disappointing, but the United Kingdom Government have made their decision hopes all can hit the track again in Aintree.
It must also be noted at this point that the British amateur horse racing over fences – the point-to-point season has been shifted since January 4, but could hold on the 29th of March.