John Durkan Chase: Gaelic Warrior edges Fact To File in Punchestown thriller

Gaelic Warrior held off a late cost from stablemate Truth To File to win an exciting John Durkan Chase at Punchestown.The 13-8 winner had constructed an enormous lead underneath Paul Townend by the halfway level, however was pushed proper to the road after a robust surge by Mark Walsh aboard favorite Truth To File (11-8).The highest two are each educated by Willie Mullins, whereas Sunday’s sturdy discipline additionally contained 2025 Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin, 2024 Grand Nationwide winner I Am Maximus and 2023 John Durkan winner Fastorslow.”That was a correct horse race,” successful jockey Townend instructed RTE Sport.”He took a little bit of a breather when he wanted it and it allowed him to fill as much as have a go at Mark anyway.”[He had] a very good bounce on the final when it was all on the road and put his head down and rallied off the again of it. His leaping held collectively, which was an enormous assist.”In mushy to heavy circumstances, Townend and Gaelic Warrior – the second favorite – put important daylight between themselves and the remaining by midway, with the chasing pack given appreciable work to do.Nevertheless, the chief’s quick early tempo proved tough to maintain and Truth To File regarded to have all of the momentum after bridging the hole and hitting the entrance earlier than the ultimate flight.However Gaelic Warrior dug deep to win by a neck on an exciting run for residence, with Fastorslow (10-1) 29 lengths behind in third.



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