They say the Gold Cup leaves its mark, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for Gaelic Warrior. The Willie Mullins-trained stayer backed up his Cheltenham Gold Cup win in style by landing the Punchestown Gold Cup.

In doing so, he wrote his name in the history books; not many have landed both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup in the same season. Sizing John in 2017 was the last. And he’s also begun to ask us the question about where he sits in the line-up of recent staying greats.

He would win the race by a massive 26 lengths, with Fact to File in second place, a very distant second at that. He was in turn 28 lengths in front of Grangeclare West, Iknowthewayurthinkin rounded off the finishes in fourth, a long way behind.

The manner of success was very much like his Cheltenham Festival win. Paul Townend gave him an inch of rein at Cheltenham, and he shot up the hill to come away from the field. Fast forward to Punchestown, Townend let him go and off he flew again.

He’s proven himself as a strong stayer. He’s got a turn of foot that can kick him clear. Gaelic Warrior is quickly becoming the perfect staying chaser.

2/1 Favourite for 2027 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Bookmakers were very quick to react to the result by cutting the horse for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He’s now priced up as the 2/1 favourite to retain his crown, and while 2/1 is short enough for a race that’s almost 12 months away, that price could look silly come next March.

Go back just over a month and look at the 2027 Cheltenham antepost prices. After winning his Gold Cup, he was 4/1 favourite, which seemed generous, and now that price is long gone.

He’s also been shortened for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, a race he could come back for after losing narrowly this season.

It’s not a race that plays into his strengths as much as others, with the three-mile trip and sharper track. For that reason, he’s actually a higher price to win the race than he is the Gold Cup; a best price of 7/2 is available at the time of writing.

Plans for Next Season?

There was plenty of talk after the race about Gaelic Warrior and his plans for next season. Willie Mullins, as you’d expect, just wanted to enjoy the day and didn’t divulge too much in any of the quotes and interviews I’ve seen.

But you’d have to think he will go for something very similar to what he’s done this season.

A prep run first, probably in Ireland, but it wouldn’t be a massive shock to see him go for the Betfair Chase at Haydock. I call it a prep run, but it’ll, of course, be a Grade One contest somewhere.

Next up, I think Mullins will get his horse as ready as he can be for the King George at Kempton. It was the one that got away this season, finishing behind The Jukebox Man in a thriller and arguably the race of the season.

The Irish Gold Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup and then Punchestown Gold Cup are likely to be his trio to end the season.

Another Gold Cup success, combined with a couple of wins elsewhere throughout the season, and you’d have to start talking about Gaelic Warrior as being a modern-day great.

He’s only eight, so could win his second Cheltenham Gold Cup as a nine-year-old. If he does that, then he’d have the age advantage over Galopin Des Champs, who was 11 when he tried to land his third Gold Cup, and failed.

The Mullins conveyor belt continues to spit out absolutely top-class animals, and plenty of staying chasers for the Gold Cup in particular.

Gaelic Warrior is the current star of the stable, and he does things with ease. He’s more of a Kauto Star than a Denman, or Galopin Des Champs. He’s got plenty of class about him.

Go enjoy the summer, and I, for one, can’t wait to see him in action again next season.