Punchestown Festival: Gaelic Warriors claim the Gold Cup

Gaelic Warrior raced clear to claim the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

With Paul Townend on board, the 5-6 favorite drove home ahead of stablemates Fact Two File (13-8) and Grangeclair West (28-1). All three are trained by Willie Mullins.

It was the eight-year-old Gaelic Warrior who got the better of his rival after Fact Two File’s victory in the Irish Gold Cup came after defeat to John Durcan.

It was another excellent race with Gaelic Warrior storming home with 26 lengths to spare in the last jump.

“It was a massive performance,” Mullins told RTÉ Sport.

“My heart was in my mouth when Paul joined him (Fact to File) between the fourth-last and the third-last. I was thinking ‘are they going to push each other’ or what are they going to do? They were having a bit of a lick.

“Both jockeys just let fly. Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the measure of fact to file on that trip. It could have been different on a shorter trip. It was a hell of a horse’s race.”

Won the Grade One Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race with Nolimit (14-1).

Trained by Gordon Elliott and trained by Josh Halford, Boystown (5-1) finished third with five-year-old pre-race favorite The Morne Rambler (11-8).

In the Novice Hurdle, Le Frimeur (18-1) maintains an unbeaten record against Zanoosh (11-4f) and I Started A Joke (11-1).