Gaelic Warrior sauntered to a Cheltenham–Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.
It feels an age since the eight-year-old was a beaten favourite off 129 in the 2022 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. He’s developed something of a lunatic status since; often hanging right, racing keenly and failing to justify favouritism. Regardless, four years since that infamous day, he’s amassed five Grade 1s.
The son of Maxios began his season with a neck success in the John Durkan, with Fact To File in second. After a third in the King George, Fact To File reversed that form in a sensational Irish Gold Cup.
Then, a performance for the ages was delivered in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Many were of the opinion Gaelic Warrior would be too keen for the contest, lacking the stamina reserves late on. But he travelled and jumped everywhere under Paul Townend, and flew up the hill like a fresh horse.
Only Sizing John has managed to win the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup in the last ten years. Gaelic Warrior produced what was potentially a career best effort when a 26 length winner. While the field wasn’t jam-packed, he still thumped his stablemate Fact To File, who was 28 lengths clear of the third.
“It was a hell of a horse race” – Willie Mullins
Performances like that don’t happen very often, as Willie Mullins, speaking to Racing TV, described it as a “huge performance.” Mullins, who was responsible for four of the five runners, continued: “My heart was in my mouth when Paul joined him between the fourth-last and the third-last. I was thinking ‘would they knock one another’ or what would they do. They were going some lick.
“Both jockeys just let fly. Over that trip Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the measure of Fact To File. Over a shorter trip it might be different. It was a hell of a horse race; it takes two horses to do it. It was great that JP allowed Fact To File to take him on, it made for a memorable day.
“Both horses got the run of the race the way they wanted to. Fact To File got a nice time in front and Paul was able to settle his fella in. Both jockeys got to ride their horse the way they wanted to. There were no excuses.”
Gaelic Warrior’s owner Rich Ricci was delighted by the performance, as he followed up Mullins’ praise to say: “We’ve never won this race before. It was very sporting of JP to run his horse. The ground probably didn’t suit him, but he’s a fantastic horse.
The people here are brilliant and I’m thrilled to win the race. I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Gaelic Warrior and Fact To Filer are more than likely to start their next campaign off against each other again in the John Durkan.