Mulholland is day-dream believer

Even he, however, dared not believe that he would make such a smooth transition to the training ranks and become responsible for Midnight Chase, one of National Hunt racing's most progessive horses who is a genuine Gold Cup contender.

For there was a time, after a hideous fall in a Wetherby novice hurdle six years ago, that he had suffered life-changing injuries. Unconscious for 45 minutes, Mulholland's parents were warned that he might have suffered a broken neck and brain injuries as well as a shattered leg and fractured cheekbone.

Out of action for a year, Mulholland – who had been riding for North Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy – miraculously returned to the saddle where his racing exploits were regularly curtailed by injury.

He shattered his collarbone less than an hour after piloting Midnight Chase to victory in the gelding's first race over hurdles in April, 2007. Little did he realise that this would become one of the most talked-about horses in racing.

When he broke his other leg, Mulholland – who used to ride for the likes of Middleham handler Micky Hammond – decided, wisely, that he should perhaps pursue another career in racing, one where he was not putting his life on the line every day.

"By that stage, I was 27 and I was never going to be champion jockey," he told the Yorkshire Post. "I've had two operations on each leg and had both of my collarbones pinned and plated. I'm lucky – the fall at Wetherby could have been a lot, lot worse. But I didn't want to be 37, riding bad horses, risking my life, scraping the barrel. There had to be easier ways to make money."

So it has proven. Seventeen winners in his first season, 19 last year and 17 this year before the weather intervened. They are numbers that an injury-plagued Mulholland could only dream about as a jockey.

With around 45 horses, he is now renting state-of-the-art stables in the West Country from David Pipe.

Mulholland is fortunate that he has learned from the best and he is not afraid to admit as such. Riding out for Aidan O'Brien, the great Irish trainer, inspired him to be a jockey. Working in Yorkshire for Murphy, despite the injuries, showed him the dedication that would be required if he became a trainer. And magical days when his best friend, Colm Murphy, trained the 2006 Champion Hurdle winner Brave Inca, showed that dreams do sometimes come true.

"Being a trainer is far more difficult than riding. As a jockey, there are thousands of horses out there. As a trainer, I have 45 horses to keep in one piece, the owners happy and the staff motivated. Believe me, it's tough," he said.

That said, it helps that the string includes Midnight Chase – the winner of 11 races and who has won at each of Cheltenham's three meetings. The most impressive was last Friday when the bold front-runner, headed by Presenting Forever after a blunder at the third last fence, rallied on the run-in to win by a nostril. The horse clearly runs for Dougie Costello, the Malton-based jockey who was left "speechless" by Midnight Chase's heroics.

"He only ever does what he has to do and he has a little fan club here now as he keeps coming back. The dream is still on. He'll have a break and be entered for the Gold Cup," said Mulholland.

Mulholland's philosophy is simple. He does not expect his horse, on ratings, to challenge the 'big three' of Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander.

But, as he knows from painful experience, one fence in a race can change the whole dynamics of the contest – and the Gold Cup is littered with unexpected winners like Cool Dawn, Mr Mulligan and 100-1 outsider Nortons Coin.

"He was 80-1 before Friday – and is now in to 16-1," added Mulholland. "He's won four times at Cheltenham, that counts for something, and there's great prize money – 45,000 or so – for being third or fourth.

"That's more than winning some big handicaps, so why not take a chance? You dream about these things. And, sometimes, they come true."