Gaelic Warrior once again proved he is the premier staying chaser of the season by adding the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his Cheltenham triumph, delivering a performance that left spectators in awe. The eight‑year‑old colt, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, travelled through the race with ease, maintaining a smooth rhythm from the start.
As the 5/6 favourite, he settled comfortably behind his stablemate Fact To File, who had taken the lead three fences out. When jockey Paul Townend gave the signal to accelerate with two fences remaining, Gaelic Warrior responded instantly, pulling away with apparent effortlessness.
He cleared the final obstacles cleanly and, within moments, was well clear of the field, eventually finishing a staggering 26 lengths ahead of Fact To File, who had tried to press the pace from the front. Mullins could not hide his excitement after the race.
"It was a massive performance," he said. "My heart was in my mouth when Paul joined Fact To File between the fourth‑last and third‑last fences. I kept wondering whether they would clash or what would happen.
Both jockeys were letting their mounts run freely, and over that distance Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the measure of Fact To File. Over a shorter trip the result might have been different, but it was a phenomenal race. It takes two top‑class horses to produce a day like this, and it was wonderful that JP McManus let Fact To File challenge him. It made the day unforgettable.
Both horses got the run they wanted, Fact To File posted a respectable time up front, and Paul was able to settle his horse nicely. No excuses whatsoever." Mullins also reflected on Gaelic Warrior's busy campaign. "He started his season here in November, then went to Kempton for the King George, the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham and 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 storyline this season. The two met for the third time at Punchestown after their initial clash in the John Durkan at the same venue, followed by Fact To File's revenge in the Irish Gold Cup. Mullins hinted that the pair could meet again in next season's John Durkan, stating, "That would be the logical plan for Gaelic Warrior's return." Owner Rich Ricci was equally delighted with the historic win. "We've never taken this race before," he said.
"It was very sporting of JP to run his horse; the ground perhaps didn't suit him, but he's a fantastic animal. 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 setbacks, 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 an unbeaten record by winning the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle.
Trained by Harry Derham, the 18/1 outsider surged to the front under jockey J J Slevin as the field turned for home, eventually beating the 11/4 favourite Zanoosh by six and a half lengths. Derham, who secured his first Grade One victory, expressed his disbelief: "It's a cliché, but I genuinely dream of training Grade One winners. It's absolutely unreal.
Simon Munir grabbed me at last year's meeting and said he would send me this horse. To have access to horses of this calibre is unbelievable. The horse had a minor setback in the autumn but improved steadily through the spring. We had no idea how good he would be, and even now I'm not entirely sure we fully understand his ability.
JJ said he made several mistakes in the race, yet he still beat a quality field. It's incredible." Slevin praised Derham's ambition, noting, "Harry is a young, very ambitious trainer. He's only moving upward, and this win is a huge shout for him.
The facilities here are top‑notch – great schooling grounds, gallops – so credit to him for making the most of it." In the flat division, Josh Halford timed his ride perfectly on With Nolimit to capture 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 turned the tables at Punchestown, holding off Festival hero The Mourne Rambler and finishing a length and three‑quarters ahead of Noel Meade's 11/8 favourite. Elliott lauded his 14/1 winner: "He ran a good race at Cheltenham, perhaps a little too keen.
I think I gave Harry Swan the wrong instructions, but we took our time today. All credit to Josh – he gave him a superb ride. I'm delighted for Josh; he works hard in the yard, is a lovely bloke, and comes from good stock. He's been with me for a couple of years and has delivered several winners.
He's quiet, patient, and never complains. Winning a Grade One is a massive achievement; they're hard to come by." Elliott added that the victory matched their best season in terms of Grade One wins, with twelve to date, and hinted at the possibility of adding another before the week ends. Henry de Bromhead's Nouvotic (7/1) also made a statement, pulling clear three fences out to win the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase under jockey Darragh O'Keeffe. De Bromhead expressed his pleasure: "It's wonderful to get a win, especially for Roger Brookhouse, a great supporter of Punchestown who comes here every year.
This is our second win in this race after Let’s Go Champ a few years back. I couldn't believe the easy lead Darragh secured, and I'm delighted." When asked about a potential run in the Galway Plate, de Bromhead said, "He could be a contender, though his rating might be a touch low – he was 130 there – but he could target the Blazers or a similar race. He loves the ground here." Overall, Punchestown delivered a day packed with high‑quality performances, memorable duels, and historic achievements across both jump and flat racing, underscoring why the festival remains a highlight of the Irish racing calendar.