Ruby Walsh: Mullins is someone people should aspire to be

Ruby Walsh described Willie Mullins as "somebody people should aspire to be" after the trainer emulated the great Vincent O'Brien by winning the UK trainers’ championship.

A Sandown double via Minella Cocooner and Impaire Et Passe provided a fitting finale to a season that has also seen the Closutton handler claim a 100th Cheltenham Festival success in March as well as winning the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season thanks to I Am Maximus’ heroics at Aintree.

Walsh, who was in the saddle for many great days in Mullins’ career and now plays a key role behind the scenes in the County Carlow operation, feels the 67-year-old has become an inspirational figure for others.

"It’s huge, and from where he has started, to get to where he has ended up is massive," said Walsh.

"I wasn’t there in the beginning, but it’s huge and when you look at things and people and then say who do I want to be and what do I want to achieve, I think he is somebody people should aspire to be."

Paul Townend has been Closutton number one since Walsh’s retirement, winning four Gold Cups for his long-time employer and enjoying the best seat in the house during this record-breaking season.

Fresh from steering Impaire Et Passe to success, he said: "He has made my career and I went there as an apprentice straight from school and he is a genius of a man.

"Away from being a genius of a trainer, he is a lovely man to work with and very fair. I’m a very small part of a very big operation and very lucky to be where I am."

Mullins’ son Patrick and wife Jackie were on hand for the Sandown celebrations, cutting a proud figure at Sandown as her husband lifted the trophy aloft.

She said: "It’s extraordinary what he has achieved and when we started