Gaelic Warrior storms through to lead before the last© Photo Healy Racing
Gaelic Warrior was impressive on a step up in trip to an extended 2m7f in the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle.
Paul Townend settled the 4/5 favourite towards the rear of the field as Favori De Champdou set the the pace under Darragh O'Keeffe who replaced the stood-down Jordan Gainford.
The five-year-old gelding Gaelic Warrior made headway after three out and tanked into third on the inner after the next.
He dropped to fifth on the turn for home as other horses played their cards, however, Paul Townend switched him out straightening for home and he stormed to the front before the last.
He popped it well and ran away from Affordale Fury (6/1) to win by 10 lengths to give Townend his 100th winner of the season. Franciscan Rock was another six lengths adrift at 80/1.
This brought up a double on day two of the Punchestown Festival for Willie Mullins and Townend who took the preceding race with Grangeclare West
Townend said: "I did (ride into the pocket), but I would have been disappointed if I wasn't able to get out of it to be honest.
"I was on the fastest horse - if I wasn't able to get out of there, there was something wrong.
"When they rushed around me, they were committed at that stage so I was happy to see that happening.
"He settled like a dream and that was the key early on.
"Going that way is a huge help because you make him keen by trying to keep him straight.
"I don't know if he would want the ground any faster."
Mullins added: “The trip was a big help to him. I was hoping the ground would be a help to him but Paul thinks it wasn't.
“I think the trip was a lot of it and Paul was once again ice cool, sitting in behind a wall of horses waiting for the right gap to come and he produced him at the right time.
“He must come into staying hurdle territory now after that. He has the option of going chasing, but we'd have to have a good look at keeping him over hurdles. That looks to be his job there.
“We'll get home and think about it but what I saw there, the way he improved going that extra trip, he looks to have the Stayers Hurdle written all over him.
“He does jump a bit right, but those type of horses always settled the more racing they get, he'll get the hang of it.”
Paddy Power shortened Gaelic Warrior from 8/1 to 6/1 for the Turners at Cheltenham and from 10/1 to 8/1 for the Brown Advisory. They cut him from 20/1 to 8/1 for the Stayers' Hurdle and from 20/1 to 14/1 for the National Hunt Chase.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
