Patrick winning the 2025 Randox Grand National on Nick Rockett

Photo Credit: Grossick Photography/The Jockey Club

Grand National-winning jockey Patrick Mullins is set to headline a star-studded line-up for a charity race at Nottingham next Wednesday (28th October).

The 36-year-old will swap the Jumps for the Flat when he takes on eight famous faces from the equestrian world in support of Autism in Racing, which works to make the sport accessible for everyone.

Those joining Mullins at Colwick Park for the mile and a quarter contest, named Heroes Gallop for Autism In Racing, include ITV Racing presenter Leona Mayor and international events rider George Bartlett, with the race rounding off the card on the upcoming Community Raceday.

The son of legendary trainer Willie, Patrick is best known for riding Nick Rockett to victory in the 2025 Randox Grand National at Aintree, though he boasts a glittering CV - including being named champion amateur in Ireland on no less than 15 occasions.

Mullins is currently on a mission to ride a winner at every Jumps track in the UK and while Nottingham won’t count towards that particular tally, he’s relishing the chance to visit the East Midlands track for the first time.

He said: “I ran into Bobby Beevers (Autism in Racing founder) at an awards lunch, and he asked whether I’d be interested in taking part, which I was happy to do.

“I’ve never been to Nottingham, and I can ride in the race as I’m an amateur as opposed to a professional. The first question I asked was what weight I had to be, when I heard it was whatever weight I wanted, I thought that’s my kind of race!

“I’m trying to ride a winner at every Jumps course in the UK, so this is a little side quest. I rode a winner at Chester, and I’ve had two at Epsom as well, so I’ve seen some of the Flat tracks.

“I’ll be going there to win, definitely! There will be no soft touches. I might even pull the irons up a couple of holes and try to look like a Flat jockey, but we’ll see!”

Founded in 2021, Autism In Racing delivers autism-friendly racedays, mentoring opportunities, community activities and resources that help more people engage with and enjoy the sport.

The race is in its second year after being held at Chepstow 12 months ago, with any funds raised going towards helping to support and expand these initiatives.

Autism in Racing founder Bobby Beevers couldn’t hide his delight at having Mullins on the line-up for the race. He said: “It’s brilliant to have Patrick on board to ride at Nottingham. To be able to call on a Grand National-winning rider is great credit to him.

“We’ve got nine riders and every single one of them has been fantastic, working hard and raising money. It’s not easy because they’ve got to keep themselves fit and pass a fitness test, so they’ve all worked incredibly hard.

“A huge thank you must go to The Jockey Club and Nottingham Racecourse for their incredible support. These races take a lot of organising and the guys have been there to help me every step of the way.

“We're raising as much money as we can to continue to make the sport as inclusive and as welcoming as we can and ultimately help as many autistic individuals as we can to be able to enjoy the sport.

“Autism in Racing is incredibly reliant on funding. The bottom line is, without the funding there is no charity, so a big fundraising event like this is critical and I can’t thank everybody enough for their support in getting this event over the line.”

ENDS