Gaelic Warrior wins Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival

Gaelic Warrior produced a dominant performance to win the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival on Friday afternoon.

At the marquee event of the four-day festival, Gaelic Warrior ridden by jockey Paul Townend crossed the finish line by eight clear lengths.

Jango Baie finished second, while last year’s champion Inothewayurthinkin finished strongly to come third.

Harry Redknapp’s Jukebox Man, who won the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, finished eighth.

Willie Mullins who trains Gaelic Warrior has now five Gold Cups but was full of praise for owner Rich Ricci who became the first owner to win the Champion Hurdle, with Lossiemouth on Tuesday, and the Gold Cup in the same year.

‘What a performance and what a performance from the owner,’ Mullins told ITV.

‘The first time an owner has won the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in the same season.

‘Paul Townend, how cool was he over the last two fences?

‘I don’t know how he was so cool over those last two fences. The dominance of Gaelic Warrior against a good field on paper – fantastic for them all.’

Meanwhile, Townend – who has also won five Gold Cups – said he was speechless after his latest triumph and fortunate after his original ride on two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs before his withdrawal.

‘It’s the Gold Cup. They just get better and better. I am speechless,’ said Townend after his fifth Gold Cup triumph.

‘Patrick [Mullins] was convinced [Gaelic Warrior] was the horse for the race.

‘Hard luck on him, but he did a lot of work with this horse. It’s a big team effort. I was just fortunate to be on the back of him today.

‘I got the position I wanted. I didn’t ever envision going so far ahead, but I wasn’t going to slow him down third from the last.’