Gaelic Warrior once again proved why he is the premier staying chaser of the season, adding the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his Cheltenham victory with a dazzling display of class and stamina. The eight-year-old, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, travelled the course with effortless ease, maintaining a steady rhythm from the start. As the 5/6 favourite, he was positioned just behind his stablemate Fact To File, who had taken the lead three fences out.
When jockey Paul Townend gave the signal with two fences remaining, Gaelic Warrior responded instantly, accelerating into a clear lead and pulling away with such authority that he finished 26 lengths ahead, leaving Fact To File to finish second after a valiant but hard‑fought effort. Mullins could barely contain his excitement after the race. "It was an enormous performance.
My heart was in my mouth when Paul brought him alongside Fact To File between the fourth‑last and third‑last fences. I kept wondering whether they would clash or what would happen next. They were both travelling at a blistering pace," he explained.
"Both riders gave them everything. Over that distance Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the edge over Fact To File.
Over a shorter trip the result might have been different, but today it was a spectacular race. It takes two horses to make a day like this memorable, and JP (McManus) allowed Fact To File to challenge, which made it all the more exciting. Both horses got the race they wanted.
Fact To File posted a respectable time up front, and Paul settled his mount perfectly. There are no excuses for anyone." Mullins also reflected on the demanding campaign Gaelic Warrior has endured this year.
"He started here in November, then went to Kempton for the King George, the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham and now back to Punchestown. My philosophy is simple: if you have quality horses and the sponsors are offering good money, you should take the opportunities.
I try to run them as often as possible when the conditions are right." The rivalry between Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File has been a highlight of the season. The two met for the third time at Punchestown, having first clashed in the John Durkan at the same venue before Fact To File turned the tables in the Irish Gold Cup.
Mullins hinted that the pair could meet again in next season's John Durkan, saying, "That would be the ideal plan for Gaelic Warrior's return." Owner Rich Ricci shared his delight at the historic win. "We've never won this race before. It was very sporting of JP to run his horse, even though the ground may not have suited him.
He's a fantastic animal. I'm thrilled to claim this victory. I haven't been back here since Ruby Walsh retired in 2019. We've had a busy few years with Covid and other commitments, but the people at Punchestown are wonderful, and I'm overjoyed with this result." In other Punchestown action, Le Frimeur continued his unbeaten streak by taking the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle, defeating the well‑regarded Zanoosh and delivering trainer Harry Derham his first Grade One success.
After a strong start by Espresso Milan, J J Slevin guided Le Frimeur (18/1) to the front as they turned for home. Zanoosh, the 11/4 favourite, chased but faded, finishing six and a half lengths behind. Derham could barely contain his excitement, saying, "It's a cliché, but I truly dream of training Grade One winners. This victory is unreal and makes everything easier when you have top‑class horses.
Simon (Munir) approached me last year and promised to send this horse our way. To have access to horses of this calibre is unbelievable. He had a minor setback in the autumn but improved steadily through the spring.
We never imagined he would be this good, and even now I'm not entirely sure we fully grasp his ability. JJ said we made several mistakes in the race, yet Le Frimeur still beat a quality field. It's absolutely surreal." Slevin praised Derham, noting, "Harry is a young, ambitious trainer moving only upwards.
It was a bold move to bring him into this race, and he deserved the shout. With a rating of 129, you might expect a handicap, but the facilities here are superb, and the gallops are top‑notch. Fair play to him." Josh Halford timed his ride perfectly on With Nolimit, securing victory in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H.
Flat Race. The five‑year‑old, trained by Gordon Elliott, had finished ninth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but stepped up to claim a one‑and‑a‑quarter‑mile win, holding off a late challenge from Festival hero The Mourne Rambler and finishing a length and three‑quarters ahead of Noel Meade's 11/8 favourite. Elliott praised his 14/1 scorer: "He ran well at Cheltenham, perhaps a touch too keen. I think I gave Harry (Swan) the wrong instructions, so we took it slower today.
All credit to Josh, who gave him a superb ride. He's a hard‑working lad, from good stock, and has been with me for a couple of years, delivering several winners. He's quiet, patient, and I'm thrilled he has a Grade One on his record – they are hard to come by." The Cullentra operation celebrated a record‑equalling season with twelve Grade One wins, hoping to add another before the week ends.
Meanwhile, Henry de Bromhead's Nouvotic (7/1) dominated the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, pulling clear three fences from the finish under jockey Darragh O'Keeffe. De Bromhead expressed his gratitude: "It's wonderful to secure a win, especially for Roger (Brookhouse), a great supporter of Punchestown who comes here every year. This is our second victory in this race after Let’s Go Champ a few years back. I couldn't believe the easy lead Darragh got, and I'm delighted." When asked about a potential Galway Plate run, de Bromhead said, "He could contest it, though his rating of 130 might be a limiting factor.
He could also be aimed at the Blazers or similar events – he loves this ground." Overall, Punchestown delivered a day of memorable performances, with Gaelic Warrior's dominant Gold Cup win standing out as the headline, while emerging talents and seasoned campaigners alike added depth and excitement to the festival's rich tapestry of racing action.