Vince Mullins

Vince Mullins

Vincent Christfur Mullins had his first ride on Canasta Boy, unplaced in the Bridgford Novices’ Hurdle at Nottingham on December 16, 1957. It was not until Market Rasen on December 27, 1958 that he had the first of his two wins under National Hunt rules when Paradise Beach won the Kernel Handicap Hurdle, beating Wentworth Girl by four lengths. 

He was riding the five-year-old for the first time and the gelding had not won a race for almost two years. Vince retained the ride but the best performance they could manage in seven subsequent starts was one third place. 

Vince’s only other winner was at Catterick Bridge on December 2, 1961, when Cash triumphed in the Cleveland Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1). Taking the lead at the final flight, Cash drew clear on the run-in to beat Bash On, the mount of Pat Buckley, by three lengths. 

Again, Vince was on board the four-year-old for the first time and kept the ride but was unplaced in two subsequent outings. He held a licence for one more season. 

As for Vince’s first winner, Paradise Beach, foaled in 1953 by Black Rock out of Sweet Eileen, he never won again under National Hunt rules but went on to win four point-to-points, the last in 1966 when aged 14. Remarkably, he continued to race for seven more years, having his last two starts when finishing last in the Cambridgeshire Harriers Members Race and pulling up in the Cambridgeshire Hunt Race in February and March 1973, at the grand old age of 21. 

Had he reappeared in 1974 he would have equalled Creggmore Boy’s age record of running as a 22-year-old. In fact, Paradise Beach had run in the same race on Creggmore Boy’s final appearance at Cartmel in 1962.