Gaelic Warrior once again proved he belongs among the top staying chasers of the season when he added the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his Cheltenham crown with a dominant display. The eight‑year‑old, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, travelled effortlessly around the course, staying true to his status as the 5/6 favourite. After clearing the market leader and stablemate Fact To File three fences from the finish, Paul Townend urged him forward with two to go. The champion responded instantly, pulling away with ease and finishing a staggering 26 lengths ahead of Fact To File, who had tried to dictate the pace early on.
Mullins could not hide his excitement after the race. "It was a massive effort," he said. "My heart was in my mouth when Paul sent him out with Fact To File between the fourth‑last and the third‑last fence. I was wondering if they'd clash or what would happen.
They were both going at a real clip. Both jockeys let them run their race, and Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the measure of Fact To File over this distance.
Over a shorter trip it might have been a different story. It was a spectacular race – it takes two horses to make it memorable.
It was great that JP McManus let Fact To File take him on; it gave us a day to remember. Both horses got the run they wanted.
Fact To File posted a nice time up front, and Paul settled his mount perfectly. No excuses at all." The trainer also reflected on the busy campaign that has seen Gaelic Warrior travel from his debut at Punchestown in November to Kempton for the King George, then on to the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham and back to Punchestown.
"My philosophy is simple: if you have the horses and the sponsors are putting up good money, you should take the opportunities," Mullins explained. "I try to run them as often as we can when the conditions are right." This meeting marked the third encounter between Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File this season. Their first clash came in the John Durkan at Punchestown, after which Fact To File exacted a revenge win in the Irish Gold Cup.
Mullins hinted that the two could meet again next season in the John Durkan, saying, "That would be the logical plan for Gaelic Warrior's return." Owner Rich Ricci expressed his delight at the historic win. "We've never taken this race before," he said. "JP was very sporting to run his horse, even though the ground may not have suited him. He's a fantastic horse.
I'm thrilled to win here – I haven't been back since Ruby Walsh retired in 2019. We've had a busy few years with Covid and other challenges, but the people at Punchestown are wonderful and I'm over the moon with this victory." The card also featured a standout performance from Le Frimeur, who maintained his unbeaten record by winning the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle. Trainer Harry Derham, who secured his first Grade One with the win, praised the quality of his horse and the support from owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
"It's a cliché, but I really dream about training Grade One winners," Derham said. "Seeing it happen is unreal.
Simon approached me last year and said he wanted to send me this horse. To have access to horses of this calibre is unbelievable. The horse had a setback in the autumn but improved steadily through the spring. We didn't realise just how good he was until today.
JJ (Slevin) gave him a perfect ride, and the result was extraordinary." In the Champion I.N.H. Flat Race, Josh Halford timed his ride impeccably to guide With Nolimit to victory. The five‑year‑old, trained by Gordon Elliott, had finished ninth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but showed great improvement at Punchestown, holding off a late challenge from Festival hero The Mourne Rambler. Elliott praised his jockey, saying, "Josh gave him a superb ride.
He's a hard‑working lad in the yard, patient and reliable. This Grade One win is a huge achievement for both of us." Henry de Bromhead celebrated another success as Nouvotic, ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, surged clear of the field to win the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase. De Bromhead highlighted the support of regular Punchestown patron Roger Brookhouse, noting, "It's wonderful to get a win for Roger, who loves coming here every year. This is our second victory in this race after Lets Go Champ.
The lead Darragh gave was easy, and I'm delighted." Looking ahead, de Bromhead hinted that Nouvotic could be aimed at the Galway Plate, though rating concerns might affect his entry. "He loves the ground and could be a contender for the Blazers or a similar race," he said. Overall, Punchestown delivered a day of high‑quality racing, with multiple Grade One victories and memorable duels that will be talked about for weeks.
The meeting underscored the depth of talent in Irish National Hunt racing and set the stage for further exciting clashes in the upcoming season.