Jumps legend Tony McCoy believes the recent split between champion trainer Willie Mullins and owner Michael O’Leary was down to a simple personality clash.
Last month there was huge surprise in the racing world when it was announced that O’Leary had decided to take the horses from his Gigginstown operation out of Mullins’ Carlow yard.
At the time, it was painted as a decision based on money – the trainer upped his fees and the owner wasn’t prepared to pay.
But 20-time champion jockey McCoy, who retired after a stellar career last year, says there may have been other reasons behind the split.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that Willie Mullins and Michael O’Leary have split,” McCoy wrote in his blog for bookmaker William Hill.
"Willie put up the training fees and Michael didn’t like it, but it’s definitely a clash of personalities.
“Neither of them will be dictated to and in some ways that’s why they are successful. For most people losing 60 horses would be their whole yard gone, but Willie will still dominate and I don't think he will have lost any sleep over it.”
Up to 60 of O’Leary’s horses, including Grade One winners Don Poli, Apple's Jade, Valseur Lido, Sir Des Champs and Blow By Blow left Mullins' base and were transferred to the yards of Gordon Elliott, Mouse Morris, Henry de Bromhead, Joseph O'Brien and Noel Meade .
