Gaelic Warrior (11/4 joint-favourite) gained the 2026 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday afternoon.
The Wealthy Ricci-owned German-bred ran out a extremely spectacular eight-length winner of the blue riband of chasing at Prestbury Park this afternoon.
It was one other Grade 1 success this week for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.
Extremely the jockey and coach gained the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday with Lossiemouth – additionally for proprietor Wealthy Ricci – the Champion Chase with Il Etait Temps on Wednesday, after which the week’s important characteristic, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Historical past for Townend and Mullins
It makes Townend the winningmost jockey and Mullins the joint-winningmost coach within the historical past of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Townend now has 5 victories on his CV following wins with Al Boum Photograph (2019, 2020), Galopin des Champs (2023, 2024) and now Gaelic Warrior (2026).
Mullins be a part of Tom Dreaper with 5 sucesses, particularly, Boum Photograph (2019, 2020), Galopin des Champs (2023, 2024) and Gaelic Warrior (2026).
Mullins delighted
“It was simply extraordinary,” Mullins admitted. “I’m simply delighted for the Riccis, I feel they’re the primary homeowners to have gained the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in the identical season (they’re truly the second after Dorothy Paget). I’m delighted for Paul Townend, who gave him such an incredible experience. He was so cool on him. May you think about what was going by way of his head going to the final fence? I do know what was going by way of mine! We’ve had so many final fence mishaps round right here. It’s implausible and the best way he did it was simply spectacular.
Gaelic Warrior regarded the winner for many of at the moment’s three miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards race. When he cruised into the lead two fences from house, his and Townend’s solely risks look in entrance of them – the final two fences.
Each have been taken with aplomb and the eight-year-old son of Maxios bounded up the Cheltenham hill to report an eight-length victory over Jango Baie (11/4 joint-favourite) – the Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville horse.
Final season’s Gold Cup winner, Inothewayurthinkin (11/1), was positioned final for many of the race below jockey Mark Walsh. His leaping all through wasn’t fluent in the course of the race, although he stayed on for third place within the J.P. McManus colors, two lengths behind the runner-up.
Gold Cup wins get “higher and higher” for Townend
Lisgoold, Co Cork-born Paul Townend stated of his fifth Cheltenham Gold Cup victory:
“It’s the Gold Cup. I at all times say they only get higher and higher. Oh my God, I’m speechless! We have been dealt a giant blow with Galopin Des Champs popping out, I used to be fortunate sufficient for this lad to return alongside. Patrick was satisfied that he was the horse for the race. He’s executed a number of work with this horse from the final day, it’s an enormous staff effort, I used to be simply the lucky one to be on his again at the moment.”
A tragic postscript to the race was the loss of life of Envoi Allen. The 12-year-old collapsed after the Gold Cup and the previous Ryanair Chase winner sadly died.
❤️ We’re so very sorry to announce that Envoi Allen has sadly handed away
The ten-time G1 winner was a three-time Cheltenham Competition hero.
Our ideas exit to connections pic.twitter.com/s4FAIuNP4s
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2026
LiveScores Now Accessible at IrishScores.com
LiveScores Now Accessible at IrishScores.com
