Gaelic Warrior floors Fact To File in Punchestown Gold Cup

Gaelic Warrior confirmed his status as this season’s elite staying chaser as he added the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his Cheltenham title with another brilliant performance.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old travelled smoothly throughout, with the 5-6 favourite cantering over market rival and stablemate Fact To File three out before Paul Townend asked him to go on with two to jump.

He duly responded and pulled effortlessly clear, putting the race to bed very quickly and coasting home by 26 lengths from Fact To File, who had tried to do it the hard way in front.

Mullins said: “It was a huge performance. My heart was in my mouth when Paul joined him (Fact To File) 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 (McManus) 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.”

He added of what has been a busy schedule for Gaelic Warrior: “He started off here in November and then on to Kempton (King George), Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham and here.

“It’s always my philosophy that if you have the horses and the sponsors put up nice money you should go for it.

“I try to run them as much as I can when we have nice opportunities.”

Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File were meeting for the third time this season, having first clashed in the John Durkan at this track before Fact To File got his revenge in the Irish Gold Cup.

They might lock horns again in next season’s John Durkan, with Mullins earmarking the race for Gaelic Warrior’s return, saying: “That would look the right plan to do.”

Gaelic Warrior’s owner Rich Ricci said: “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.

“I’m so pleased to win it. I’ve not been here since Ruby (Walsh) retired in 2019. I’ve been busy and we had covid and those kind of things.

“The people here are brilliant and I’m thrilled to win the race. I couldn’t be more delighted.”