Patrick Mullins is dreaming of further glory to add to his 2025 Grand National triumph. He believes he can secure that with Gaelic Warrior in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Mullins secured an emotional victory at Aintree last season. He guided Nick Rockett to success over the famous fences for his father Willie as Closutton enjoyed a one-two-three.
Although adding another Grand National win is very much on the radar, a tilt at the Gold Cup comes first. Gaelic Warrior and Patrick enjoyed a day in the sun in the Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree last term.
However, even that top level success would pale in comparison to a Gold Cup trophy. In a year without a standout contender, Gaelic Warrior would have a significant chance if lining up. The Ryanair Chase remains an option for the eight-year-old.
“I think he’d win the Gold Cup” – Patrick Mullins
The Mullins yard, unsurprisingly, boasts strength in depth across the Cheltenham Festival.
As such, even if Gaelic Warrior runs in the Ryanair Chase, the Mullins Gold Cup team would be strong. Nevertheless, Patrick is hoping that Gaelic Warrior not only joins the latter camp, but spearheads it.
“I’d love to ride Gaelic Warrior, I think he’d win the Gold Cup,” Mullins said to Horse And Hound. “I’ve ridden a lot of horses in my life, the feeling he gives is pure strength, and it’s that strength that makes me think he could win.”
It is not just physical strength, but mental strength and wellbeing that Mullins credits Gaelic Warrior with possessing.
“He can hang and run a bit keen at times, he’s complicated, but while some horses would annoy you, he doesn’t annoy me because you can have a conversation with him
“Our gallop is bottomless and he just goes through it so easily. After every race he’s fresh – nothing knocks him or fazes him.”
He comes to Cheltenham off the back of a defeat at Leopardstown. Mullins believes it is Gaelic Warrior’s mentality which holds him back at that venue, but comes to the fore at Cheltenham.
“In technical terms, in Cheltenham and Aintree and Kempton, where he ran well, there’s a constant inside running rail, and the field races quite tight, so you can park him in on horses’ tails and he relaxes, when he can’t see any daylight.
“At Leopardstown, there’s no inch of running rail, so the field is always spreading out and there’s daylight. Whenever he sees daylight he says I wanna go faster! He is strong, and when he wants to go there’s not much I can do about it.”
Go he must in the Gold Cup, though. Mullins’ belief in the suitability of the race can only inspire confidence.