Gaelic Warrior Storms to Gold Cup Glory, Giving Mullins Record Fifth Title

Gaelic Warrior turned the Cheltenham Gold Cup into a one-horse race on Saturday, storming eight lengths clear of Jango Baie to deliver Willie Mullins a record-equalling fifth title in the sport's most celebrated staying chase. Paul Townend barely had to move in the saddle as the 11-4 joint favourite outclassed his rivals from the turn for home, confounding pre-race stamina concerns about the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip in the process.

The winning margin told only part of the story. Gaelic Warrior was spring-heeled two out, and by the time he pinged the final fence the gap had already stretched to five lengths over Jango Baie. He then swallowed Cheltenham's hill to finish in a canter, with Inothewayurthinkin, the 2025 Gold Cup champion, staying on to take third at 8-1. Harry Redknapp's Jukebox Man, a King George VI Chase winner back in December, finished eighth.

Townend, whose fifth Gold Cup now places him alongside his trainer in the record books, admitted the result had left him struggling for words. "It's the Gold Cup. They just get better and better. I am speechless," he said. The 35-year-old had been due to ride dual winner Galopin Des Champs before that horse's pre-race withdrawal, a twist of fate he did not take for granted. "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."

Mullins, speaking to ITV, was effusive about every part of the operation. "What a performance and what a performance from the owner. 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."

The five Gold Cups now tie Mullins with the legendary Tom Dreaper as the joint-most successful trainer in the race's history, bypassing Paul Nicholls in the process. Townend's five victories came aboard Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020, Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and 2024, and now Gaelic Warrior. The win also sealed Mullins' 13th leading trainer title at the Cheltenham Festival for the Closutton yard.

The anniversary dimension was not lost on racing observers. Mullins' achievement came exactly 40 years after his father Paddy sent out Dawn Run, ridden by Jonjo O'Neill, to win the Gold Cup in one of the race's most celebrated moments.

Owner Rich Ricci completed an extraordinary week, having already landed the Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth on Tuesday. He became the first owner to claim both prizes in the same season, and said afterwards that he had "reached the mountain" having chased the Gold Cup for 21 years.

Gaelic Warrior arrived at Cheltenham having already demonstrated his quality across a strong campaign, including victories in the Chronograph Bowl Chase, the Oaksey Chase at Sandown Park, and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. Pre-race, questions had lingered about whether he would settle well enough to last out the marathon Gold Cup trip, particularly after taking a keen hold when running behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup. Saturday's performance silenced every one of those doubts with authority.