There may be no Galopin Des Champs, but Willie Mullins still has a formidable hand in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, with defending champion Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior going head-to-head on Sunday.
The Closutton handler is also responsible for two Grand National winners and another Cheltenham Festival winner among his seven-strong attack in a race he has won ten times – and one that also features Gavin Cromwell’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin and Martin Brassil’s 2023 race winner Fastorslow.
“I think it will be one of the races of the season, just like last year,” said Patrick Mullins, his father’s assistant trainer.
“You’ve got a Gold Cup winner going up against a Ryanair winner, an Aintree Bowl winner, two Grand National winners and a Brown Advisory winner – it’s a race that doesn’t lack much.
“It’s a brilliant race to start the season for those horses over two and a half miles, rather than having to get rid of them over three mile-two at Haydock or somewhere else.
“From our perspective it looks like it will be a shootout between Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior.
“Then obviously you have Inothewayurthinkin, who you think will improve as the season progresses, and Fastorslow. It won’t be easy, you would think, for him (Fastorslow) coming back from injury, but when he’s back to his best he’ll be a big contender too.”
Fact To File saw Spillane’s Tower and its two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate Galopin Des Champs in an enthralling edition of the early season feature of the Kildare circuit last year, and it is once again considered the perfect starting point after dazzling during the intermediate trip in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival.
Meanwhile, Gaelic Warrior has excelled since being increased in distance in the latter part of last season and Rich Ricci’s seven-year-old now returns with King George VI Chase and possible Gold Cup aspirations this season.
Mullins continued: “I think Fact To File will probably have the advantage on Sunday and maybe because Gaelic Warrior has gotten older he will want to go further, while Fact To File is a two and a half mile crack horse. He won it last year and you would think he is the one to beat.”
“We hope to go to the King George next and then maybe the Gold Cup with Gaelic Warrior and all the dreams are alive at the moment.”
Others from Closutton include Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson, James Du Berlais, Grangeclare West and the two most recent Grand National winners, I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett.
The latter created a magical Aintree moment for father and son as Patrick Mullins fired home a 33-1 victory on Merseyside. While this may be well below his maximum, it’s no surprise to hear that the decorated amateur pilot is enjoying rekindling the partnership.
“It will probably be a bit short for Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus and maybe Lecky Watson too, but it will be interesting to see how he measures up against the open horses,” said Mullins.
“Personally, I’m really looking forward to getting back to Nick Rockett. I’ve been driving him to work during the week and he’s in great form and hopefully we can get a really good look at him and build back to Aintree.”
Outside of the Mullins battalion, most eyes will be on the seasonal arc of Inothewayurthinkin, who finished seventh 12 months ago before taking his campaign to a climax at the Cheltenham Festival blue ribbon.
Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, said: “He’s in good form and the journey may be a bit short for him, but he’s got to start somewhere.
“Gavin is very happy with him and it’s great to get him going. He’ll be a better horse on the draft later in the season, but we’ve got somewhere to go and we’re hopeful of a good run.”
Henry de Bromhead’s recent course winner Heart Wood and Vincent Halley’s Senecia complete the line-up.
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