Punchestown features in RTE documentary about Paddy Mullins

Punchestown Racecourse features prominently in an RTE documentary tonight about legend trainer Paddy Mullins.

Paddy Mullins – The Great Stayer’ airs on RTE on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival - at 10.35pm.

Kilkenny native Mullins, who is the father of current top trainer Willie Mullins, died aged 91 in 2010.

This month is the 30th anniversary of the great mare Dawn Run’s history-making feat at Cheltenham as she won the champion hurdle in 1984 and the Gold Cup in 1986 and to date the only horse ever to achieve this double.

Dawn Run will be honoured in a new Grade 2 race - the Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle - at Cheltenham next week.

Mullins' first winner was Flash Parade, which won the 1953 La Touche at Punchestown.

The documentary, which was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, uses rare archive footage and very special location access from the Mullins family and Cheltenham racecourse.

Contributors also include Paddy’s wife Maureen, daughter Sandra, sons Willie, George, Tony and Tom, grandchildren, Emmet, Patrick, Danny and David, RTE Racing presenter Robert Hall, Brian Kavanagh CEO HRI, jockey Frankie Dettori and former jockey Stan Mellor, trainers Noel Meade, Jim Bolger, John Oxx and Jacqueline O’Brien - wife of legendary trainer Dr Vincent O’ Brien.