Danny Mullins Stands Down After Thurles Fall Days Before Cheltenham Festival

Danny Mullins, a leading Irish jockey, has been stood down following a fall at Thurles Racecourse on Thursday, March 5, 2026, just days before the highly anticipated Cheltenham Festival. The incident occurred during the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, the opening race of the day.

Details of the Fall

Mullins was riding Fancy Girl when the horse fell at the seventh fence in the 2m2f contest. The fall also brought down Stormalong and its jockey, Darragh O’Keeffe. Fortunately, initial reports indicate Mullins was able to walk away, but was stood down for the remainder of the card as a precaution.

Impact on Cheltenham Festival

The timing of the fall is particularly unfortunate, as the Cheltenham Festival is set to begin shortly. Mullins is a prominent figure in Irish racing, having won the Coral Cup on Jimmy Du Seuil at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival . He is also the nephew of renowned trainers Willie Mullins.

Race Results at Thurles

Despite Mullins’ fall, the race continued, with Karamoja, ridden by Paul Townend, winning by 12 lengths. Neon Diamond, trained by Gordon Elliott, finished second.

Regulatory Board Decision

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board confirmed that Mullins was stood down for the day following the incident.

Update

As of March 7, 2026, there has been no further update on Mullins’ condition or his participation in the Cheltenham Festival.