Patrick Mullins equalled the 97-year-old record of 72 winners in a calendar year in Ireland for an amateur jockey when landing the Grade Two bumper at Navan yesterday.

Union Dues’ defeat of the odds-on Champagne James means the champion amateur rider goes to Downpatrick on Thursday with a new record in his sights.

“There’s a horse in a maiden hurdle there that has 11.4 so I’m going to have to lose a few pounds for that,” joked Mullins, the 23-year-old son of Willie Mullins, who trains Union Dues.

Billy Parkinson also rode 72 winners in 1915. But the record books look set to change, although Mullins was grateful to just equal it yesterday. “It’s a relief. To get so close and not get it would have been tough. But all credit goes to my father. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to do this,” he said.

The Mullins team have five horses entered in the two maiden hurdles at Downpatrick later in the week.