Gaelic Warrior once again proved he belongs to the elite tier of staying chasers this season, adding the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his Cheltenham triumph with a flawless run. The eight‑year‑old, trained by the renowned Willie Mullins, travelled through the course with ease, maintaining a smooth rhythm from start to finish. As the 5/6 favourite, he settled comfortably before being asked to accelerate by jockey Paul Townend with two fences remaining. Responding instantly, the horse surged ahead, pulling away without effort and ultimately crossing the line 26 lengths clear of his stablemate Fact To File, who had tried to challenge from the front.
Mullins was visibly thrilled after the race. "It was a massive performance. My heart was in my mouth when Paul brought Fact To File alongside between the fourth‑last and third‑last fences.
I wondered if they would clash or what would happen. They were both going at a high speed," he recalled. "Both riders let their mounts run freely. Over that distance Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the measure of Fact To File.
Over a shorter trip the result might have been different. It was a spectacular race – you need two horses of that calibre to make it memorable.
It was great that JP McManus let Fact To File take him on; it added drama to the day. Both horses got the race they wanted. Fact To File posted a respectable time up front, and Paul settled his mount nicely. No excuses whatsoever." Mullins also reflected on Gaelic Warrior's packed campaign.
"He started his season here in November, then went to Kempton for the King George, raced at the Dublin Racing Festival, tackled Cheltenham and now back here. My philosophy is simple: if you have the horses and the sponsors are offering good money, you should take the opportunities.
I try to give them as many runs as possible when the conditions suit." 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 first clash in the John Durkan on the same track and a subsequent reversal in the Irish Gold Cup where Fact To File got the better of Gaelic Warrior. Mullins hinted that the pair could meet again in next season's John Durkan, saying, "That would be the right plan for Gaelic Warrior's return." Owner Rich Ricci expressed his delight at the historic win.
"We've never won this race before. 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 claim this victory. I haven't been here since Ruby Walsh retired in 2019.
We've had a busy few years with Covid and other challenges, but the people at Punchestown are brilliant, and I couldn't be happier." The meeting also featured other notable performances. Le Frimeur, trained by Harry Derham, continued his unbeaten streak by winning the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle, handing the prolific Zanoosh a six‑and‑a‑half‑length defeat.
Derham, who secured his first Grade One victory, said, "It's a cliché, but I truly dream of training Grade One winners. It's unreal and makes everything easier when you have top‑class horses. Simon Munir approached me last year, saying he wanted to send this horse my way.
To have access to horses of this quality is unbelievable. The horse had a minor setback in the autumn but improved steadily through the spring. We never knew how good he could be until today. JJ said he made several mistakes in the race, yet he still beat a strong field.
It's absolutely unreal." J.J. Slevin praised Derham, noting, "Harry is a young, ambitious trainer moving only upward.
It was a big shout for him to bring a horse like this to this level. The facilities here are top‑notch, and the gallops are excellent – fair play to him." In the flat division, 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 turned the tables at Punchestown, holding off a late challenge from Festival hero The Mourne Rambler and winning by a length and three‑quarters.
Elliott commented, "He ran well at Cheltenham, perhaps a little too keen. I think I gave Harry Swan the wrong instructions, but we took it slower today.
Credit to Josh for a superb ride. He's a hard‑working yard hand, patient and reliable, and I'm thrilled for him to win a Grade One – they're hard to come by." Elliott added that the win matched the stable's best season tally of twelve Grade One victories, hoping for another before the week ends. Meanwhile, Henry de Bromhead's Nouvotic, a 7/1 shot, dominated the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, pulling clear three fences from the finish under jockey Darragh O'Keeffe.
De Bromhead praised the effort, saying, "It's wonderful to secure a win for Roger Brookhouse, a great supporter of Punchestown who comes here every year. This is our second victory in this race after Lets Go Champ.
Darragh got an easy lead, and I'm delighted." When asked about a potential run in the Galway Plate, de Bromhead replied, "He could be a contender, though his rating might be a bit low – he was 130 there, so it may not be enough, but he could target the Blazers or a similar race. He loves the ground." Overall, Punchestown delivered a day packed with memorable moments, from Gaelic Warrior's dominant double to breakthrough victories for emerging trainers and jockeys, underscoring the festival's status as a showcase of top‑class National Hunt talent.