Gaelic Warrior stormed to a commanding victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, leaving his rivals trailing by 26 lengths. Ridden by Paul Townend, the 5-6 favorite powered ahead of stablemates Fact To File (13-8) and Grangeclare West (28-1), all trained by Willie Mullins.
The eight-year-old turned the tables on Fact To File after the latter's win in the Irish Gold Cup following a defeat in the John Durkan. Gaelic Warrior made his decisive move at the penultimate jump and surged home to a spectacular triumph.
"It was a huge performance," Mullins told RTE Sport. "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."
In other races at the Punchestown Festival, Nolimit (14-1) won the Grade One Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Josh Halford, beating pre-race favorite The Mourne Rambler (11-8) and Boycetown (5-1). The Novice Hurdle was won by Le Frimeur (18-1), who maintained his unbeaten record, edging Zanoosh (11-4f) and I Started A Joke (11-1).