Gaelic Warrior easily conquers Oaksey rivals

Gaelic Warrior stamped his class on the bet365 Oaksey Chase with a smooth display under Paul Townend at Sandown.

Having had a subdued first half of the season, Gaelic Warrior (5-6 favourite) came back to life at Aintree and he was diverted from Punchestown to aid Willie Mullins’ championship bid.

With Pic D’Orhy making a bad mistake at the second and pulled up before halfway, Gaelic Warrior had his made his task easier and the result was never in doubt.

His stablemate Appreciate It stayed on well for second five lengths away, just edging out Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law by a neck.

Mullins said: “I didn’t mind the ground or trip and it was just whether he had recovered from his last race or not. He was coming back from Aintree quick and I would rather have been going to Punchestown time-wise.

“He probably wouldn’t go to Punchestown next week now after that, but do we go for the King George next year? We’re going to have a very open mind about it. He’s fast enough on soft ground and also good on good ground, so there’s lots of options for him.

“He does jump to his right a bit, but he’s won everywhere and I don’t get as caught up in whether they jump right or left as some people do.”

Owner Rich Ricci said: “He’s a funny old fella and I would have liked to have had a crack at the Gold Cup next week at Punchestown, but we’re big supporters of Willie’s yard and we decided to come here and help him in his pursuit of the title.

“I’m not sure he’s a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse but he looks to be a King George horse. He was favourite for it last winter for a while and we probably got seduced by the fact he won the previous year over two and he’s such a good work horse.

“Willie thinks the world of him over any trip and to me he’s a stayer on anything other than heavy ground. I’d imagine we’ll give staying a go, but you never know which Gaelic Warrior is going to show up with this fella. When he shows up he’s absolutely brilliant and we hope he is now getting that little bit older and wiser and goes into next season firing on all cylinders.

“He seems to not mind this ground over a trip and I would have liked to have a crack at Jonbon today – but not on this ground over that shorter trip. I think we’re learning about him as we go forward and it’s great to have a horse of this ability. Hopefully he can continue to deliver for us in these big races.”