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.
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.”
Le Frimeur sees off Zanoosh to land Grade One honours at Punchestown
Le Frimeur maintained his unbeaten record in style as he powered home to lower the colours of the prolific Zanoosh in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, giving trainer Harry Derham his first Grade One winner.
Espresso Milan made the early running, but as they turned for home J J Slevin sent Le Frimeur (18/1) to the head of the field.
Sent off the 11/4 favourite, Zanoosh gave chase in her bid for a six-timer, but could not keep pace with the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Le Frimeur, finishing six-and-a-half lengths in arrears.
“It’s a cliche, but I genuinely dream about training Grade One winners,” said Derham.
Le Frimeur, ridden by JJ Slevin, on the way to winning during day two of the Punchestown Festival
“It’s absolutely unreal. Obviously it makes it an awful lot easier with very good horses.
“Simon actually grabbed me on the arm at this meeting last year and said he was going to send me this horse.
“To have the access to horses like this is something unbelievable.
“He got a little setback in the autumn and he’s just improved and improved all spring.
“We had no idea how good he was coming here and I’m still not sure we do to be honest. JJ said he did plenty wrong in the race and he’s beaten a quality field well. It’s absolutely unreal.”
He added: “We obviously believed in the horse a lot or else we wouldn’t have brought him here. JJ thought three miles was the right thing to do and it’s absolutely unreal.”
Saluting Derham on his maiden top-level victory, Slevin said: “Harry is a young trainer, very ambitious. He’s only going one way and that’s up. It was a big shout from Harry coming here, to run him in that race.
“Rated 129, you would think a handicap would be a logical way to go, but I’ve been over there a few times riding out, great facilities, great schooling grounds, great gallop, so fair play to him, it’s great.”
With Nolimit and Josh Halford foil The Mourne Rambler
Josh Halford timed his challenge to perfection to get With Nolimit up to win the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.
Ninth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, the Gordon Elliot-trained five year-old held off the challenge of Festival hero The Mourne Rambler – who looked to be hampered on the run to the line before staying on again – to come home a length and three-quarters clear of Noel Meade’s 11/8 favourite.
Elliott said of his 14/1 scorer: “To be fair he ran a good race in Cheltenham, he might have just done a little bit much. I probably gave Harry (Swan) the wrong instructions.
“We took our time with him a bit more today. All credit to Josh, he gave him a great ride.
“I’m delighted for Josh, he works in the yard and he works very hard. He’s a lovely fella, he’s from good stock.
With Nolimit, ridden by Josh Halford, on the way to winning at Punchestown
“He’s with me now for a couple of years and got us a good few winners. He comes in every day and doesn’t say too much and doesn’t give out. He’s patient and I’m absolutely thrilled for him, to win a Grade One. It’s hard to get them.”
The Cullentra handler added: “That’s equal with our best-ever season as regards Grade Ones (12). Hopefully we might get another one before the end of the week.”
Henry de Bromhead’s Nouvotic (7/1) pulled clear three fences out to win the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase under Darragh O’Keeffe.
De Bromhead said: “It’s lovely to get one, especially for Roger (Brookhouse) who is a brilliant supporter of Punchestown. He loves coming over, he comes over every year.
“He’s a great supporter of ours as well and that’s the second time we’ve won this, we won it with Lets Go Champ a couple of years ago.
“I couldn’t believe the easy lead Darragh got and I’m just delighted.”
When asked if he could be a Galway Plate contender, he added: “He could, I was just thinking that but he may not be rated high enough.
“He was 130 there so he may not be rated high enough to get in, but he could be a horse for the Blazers or something like that.
“He loves that ground.”
