Record breaking jockey Paul Townend strikes Gold with Gaelic Warrior at Cheltenham
by Brian Flanagan · Irish MirrorFor Paul Townend, there’s Gold in them thar hills.
The Festival’s undisputed Golden boy made Cheltenham history on Friday with a stunning success on Gaelic Warrior to become the first jockey to win this great race five times.
He also became the first jockey to complete the unique hat-trick of victories in the three major races of the week, following wins on Lossiemouth (Champion Hurdle) and It Etait Temps (Champion Chase).
It was also another monumental Festival achievement for trainer Willie Mullins, he too won his fifth Gold Cup in eight years, having had to wait until 2019 for his first and joins the legendary Tom Dreaper as the winning most trainer of all-time.
All coming on the 40th anniversary of Dawn Run's magical Gold Cup victory for his dad Paddy in 1986.
The eight-year-old gelding Gaelic Warrior joining Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020) and Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024) as the Mullins-Townend Gold Cup heroes.
Gaelic Warrior was simply sensational, the 11-4 joint-favourite travelling with real intent throughout the 3m2f contest, and when they turned for home there was only one winner, cruising to victory by eight lengths from Jano Baie (11-4jf) and the staying on reigning champion Inothewayurthinkin (11-1).
It was a race that had a tragic postscript with the veteran and three-time Festival winner Envoi Allen sadly collapsing and dying just seconds after competing here for an incredible eighth year in a row and in the final race of his brilliant career.
The 12-year-old had run another brave race to finish ninth under Darragh O’Keeffe but when walking back down the shoot to the unsaddling area he slumped to the ground in front of thousands of horrified spectators and his distraught stable lass.
A horde of veterinary staff rushed to his aid but unfortunately he couldn’t be saved and around 20 minutes later his passing from a suspected heart attack was confirmed in a crushing blow to trainer Henry De Bromhead and his staff.
It was a dark moment on an otherwise incredible day for Mullins and Townend and indeed the colourful Rich Ricci, who became the second owner after the legendary Dorothy Paget to win both the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in the same year.
Townend had made no secret of the fact the record was a target for him and with four wins this week he secured another leading jockey’s prize and now has Ruby Walsh’s all-time haul of 58 Festival winners in his sights, with 42 now of his own.
The 36-year-old Cork native was exuberant in the aftermath and said: “It’s the Gold Cup. I always say they just get better and better. Oh my God, I’m speechless!
He had switched to Gaelic Warrior in the days leading up to the Festival when his two-time winner Galopin Des Champs had been ruled out with injury.
“We were dealt a big blow with Galopin Des Champs coming out, I was lucky enough for this lad to come along. Patrick (Mullins) was convinced that he was the horse for the race.
“He’s done a lot of work with this horse from the last day, it’s a huge team effort, I was just the fortunate one to be on his back today.”
Townend also paid tribute to his dad Timmy, who was one of the first to hug his son in the packed winners’ enclosure following the absorbing race.
“He’s the one who had to pay to carry me round the country with ponies, and Friday nights home from school and to showjumping, on to pony racing then and up and down to Willie Mullins’s before I could drive.
“A lot of hard work went into me and it wasn’t easy either, so it’s incredible. I genuinely can’t believe it”
In truth it was one of the most impressive Gold Cup wins we’ve ever seen, the horse oozing class and looking in a different league to his rivals in what was his second Festival win after an Arkle victory in 2024.
“He pulled a little bit early, but he was well-behaved for Gaelic Warrior, to be honest! I was quite happy with him,” added Townend.
“I just got into the position that I’d gone over 100 times in my head, and usually things don’t go like that for you, but once I got a couple in front of me he relaxed really well, jumped really well, and to be honest from the third last, it was just ‘don’t fall off him’ to get him home.
“I wasn’t going to slow him down any more after jumping it well, but I wasn’t going to commit to him either. He was extraordinary.
It was also a Friday 13th that proved lucky for punters with Gaelic Warrior's win rescuing what’s been a challenging week in the Cotswolds.
Willie Mullins had eight winners but several were at big prices, none more so than his opening winner yesterday at 50-1 in the Triumph Hurdle.
“It was just extraordinary. I’m delighted for Paul, who gave him such a great ride. He was so cool on him. Could you imagine what was going through his head going to the last fence?
“I know what was going through mine! We’ve had so many last fence mishaps around here. It’s fantastic and the way he did it was just spectacular.
“He got everything right and just put in a tremendous round of jumping. We can’t ask for better than that. Jumping and ability, fantastic for owner and jockey.”