Gaelic Warrior triumphs in thrilling John Durkan duel at Punchestown

Gaelic Warrior and Paul Townend blew the race apart from an early stage

Gaelic Warrior, with Paul Townend up, jumps the last during the first circuit on their way to winning the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechas. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

There were 10 high-class horses in the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, but the race only ever concerned two. Willie Mullins’ pair, Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File, made what might not have been much of a spectacle into a terrific climax, the former benefiting from a well-judged ride by Paul Townend to prevail by just a neck.

Without having to go at helter-skelter speed, the forward-going Gaelic Warrior built up a sizeable early advantage and, by halfway, what was billed as a great race was in danger of turning into a procession. Mark Walsh, however, was nursing Fact To File along and he chipped away at the advantage as Townend gave the leader a breather.

Turning in, either could have come out on top, and it was market leader Fact To File who led, albeit narrowly, down over the last two. He likely traded quite short but Townend and Gaelic Warrior had something left in the locker and, in a rousing finish, they got back up to shade the verdict by a neck, the pair a proverbial mile clear.

Townend was as clever as we’ve come to expect, but Walsh also did everything in his power to win the race without bottoming his horse. It was much more of a contest than it threatened to be at halfway, and, doubtlessly, both will star in their respective divisions this season.

Former winner of the race, Fastorslow, filled that third spot and, while well beaten, this was a most encouraging return from a year on the sideline.

“It was a hell of a horse race, and it was a pity someone had to lose, but both horses gave their all and it was just a bob of a head,” said Mullins. “Fact To File looked all over a winner coming down to the last but Gaelic Warrior just found more reserves.

“Paul said he was just so free and well in himself, he just wanted to gallop and jump. He said he was a passenger most of the way, and out over the first two he didn’t have much say in the matter.

“He was able to get a breather into him at the fourth-last and maybe after the third-last, which gave him a little bit of powder coming down to the last.

“He said he didn’t look around and just kept sitting and tried to get as much air into him as he could for one final effort — and it paid off.” 

Asked what the future might hold for the two horses, he added: “I’m not going to say anything here now, but we’ll look to have something in the King George and something in Leopardstown. We’ll see how they recover, how they come out of the race. It’s only five weeks away.” 

Bookmakers reacted by cutting the price of the winner to as low as 11-8 for the King George on St Stephen’s Day at Kempton. Perhaps in the assumption, right or otherwise, that only he will go in that direction, Fact To File was pushed out to 6-1 by a number of firms. Last season probably proved that the Gold Cup trip will be beyond Sunday’s runner-up, but Kempton on decent ground could be his best chance to excel over three miles.

Victory completed a big-race double for Townend and Mullins as Westport Cove had taken the Grade Two Matchbook Betting Exchange Craddockstown Novice Chase with a determined effort. A mistake two out handed the advantage to Fleur In The Park but the new leader was careful at the last, resulting in a loss of momentum, and the wily Townend, spotting the opportunity, coaxed his mount back up in the dying strides.

Desertmore House has taken to the banks course here in great style and he ran out an easy winner of the Colm Quinn BMW Risk Of Thunder Chase for Martin Brassil and Ricky Doyle. A former winner of the Kerry National, he was runner-up in the La Touche Cup on his first run over the unique course, and this time he travelled with real zest and went one place better.

Brassil later completed a double when the well-backed It’s Only A Game took the Jimmy Hayes Memorial Bumper. For a small field, room was at a premium as they turned in, but John Gleeson, carrying the colours of Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, squeezed his mount through along the rails before riding him out to a confident victory.

Pat Collins’ bumper winner Champagne Kid recorded a well-deserved breakthrough over hurdles when, in the hands of Eoghan Finegan, he got the better of Court Compliance in an exciting finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Kotkito Bello, who recently made a winning debut over fences at Thurles, successfully reverted to the smaller obstacles in the Donohue Marquees Novice Handicap Hurdle. Calum Hogan, riding for Philip Rothwell and owned by Oliver Barden, made all the running and had plenty in hand to repel the late effort of County Final.

Feet Of A Dancer, who was a shade unlucky in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival before finishing third in a Grade Two on Irish Grand National day in Fairyhouse, made an impressive winning return in the listed Frontline Security Grabel Mares’ Hurdle. Continuing the good run of jockey Sean O’Keeffe, Paul Nolan’s mare took over turning for home and stayed on stoutly to race home clear of Mozzies Sister.

One horse who may have his sights set on this season’s Pertemps Final is Staffordshire Knot, who won the qualifier. Gordon Elliott’s horse, ridden by Carl Millar, took over from longtime leader Custom Taylor turning for home, and stayed on strongly to beat the running-on Millstream Lady quite comfortably.