Gaelic Warrior: Profile, Record, Age & Best Races

Gaelic Warrior stormed to glory in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring of 2024, but has left his connections a bit bemused since in being unable to replicate that showing since. 

He has twice finished behind Solness in Irish Grade 1s this season and is heading back to the Cotswolds once more with questions to be answered.

Name: Gaelic Warrior

Age: 7

Weight: 11st 12lb

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Winnings: £421,435

Cheltenham Festival wins: 1

Gaelic Warrior race stats

Runs	1st	2nd	3rd
16	7	4	3

Gaelic Warrior Age 

Gaelic Warrior is a seven-year-old gelding bred by The Niarchos Family. 

Gaelic Warrior Weight

On his most recent start Gaelic Warrior carried 11st 12lb in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown as he finished third behind Solness and Marine Nationale.  

Gaelic Warrior is expected to line up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 12th March, where he would once more carry 11st 12lb. 

Gaelic Warrior Record

Though winless in three French starts at Auteuil, connections felt Gaelic Warrior could be nicely handicapped on his first start for Willie Mullins and Ricci in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2022.

He ran well but jumped to his right and was beaten a short-head by Brazil at the line. 

He won 4-5 in his second season for Mullins, including a Dublin Racing Festival handicap off a mark of 143 and then a Punchestown Grade 1, but was only second behind stablemate Impaire Et Passe in the 2m5f Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. 

He easily won his first two over fences, including the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick, after which rider Patrick Mullins lambasted cousin Danny Mullins for trying to go up his inside on subsequent Irish Arkle winner Il Etait Temps. 

At the Dublin Racing Festival, Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File were the only two starters for the Grade 1 novice chase over 2m5½f and it was the latter that did the business, as Gaelic Warrior and Paul Townend parted company when beaten at the last. 

Gaelic Warrior bounced back and put to bed any concerns about his ability to go right handed with a flawless win in last year's Arkle, in which he was straightforward and dominant, finishing well clear of Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps. 

Now in his first season in open company, Gaelic Warrior has yet to win, finishing second and then third in a pair of Leopardstown Grade 1s won by Joseph O'Brien's rapid improver Solness. 

Gaelic Warrior Next Race

Gaelic Warrior is expected to line up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 12th March.

Gaelic Warrior Owner and Cost

Gaelic Warrior runs in the famous pink and green silks of Mrs Susannah Ricci. On the racecourse, the face of that ownership is her husband, Rich Ricci, easily one of the most well-known and likeable owners in National Hunt racing.

The American is a former investment banker and remains in the world of finance. He was formally a co-chief executive of Barclays' investment banking arm and collected a £44m payout when he left back in 2013, while he's said to be worth in excess of £100m. 

The likes of Douvan, Annie Power, Vroum Vroum Mag, Faugheen and Vautour have left an indelible print on jumps racing in his colours. 

Bred in Germany and originally sold to France for €9,000 to PB Bloodstock, Gaelic Warrior ran three times for Lageneste Macaire before a private sale to Rich Ricci. 

Gaelic Warrior Trainer

Legendary Irish handler Willie Mullins trains Gaelic Warrior and his record at the Cheltenham Festival is the envy of the racing world. 

He is the most successful trainer in the history of the Festival and recorded his 100th winner at the Cheltenham showpiece in 2024, with his tally now standing at 103. 

Mullins has won the Gold Cup four times, the Champion Hurdle five times and has two wins apiece in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Stayers' Hurdle. 

He has been champion trainer in Ireland an incredible 18 times and in 2024 he became the first Irish-based trainer in 70 years since the great Vincent O'Brien to win the British trainers' title. 

Gaelic Warrior Official Rating

Gaelic Warrior has an official mark of 163 over fences following his latest defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival. His peak Racing Post Rating (RPR) over fences was 172 when he won the Arkle at Cheltenham. 

Gaelic Warrior Prize Money

Gaelic Warrior has won £421,435 in prize money in his career to date. His biggest payday was £98,472 for winning the Arkle at Cheltenham in 2024.

Gaelic Warrior News

He has twice been denied this season on home soil in Grade 1s at Leopardstown by Solness, with the Joseph O'Brien-trained improver dominating in front on both occasions.

Gaelic Warrior's connections will recall he was well below par at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2024 before romping home in the Arkle at Cheltenham. 

Reflecting on his latest DRF defeat behind Solness, his trainer was scratching his head. 

Mullins said: "It looked like he was going to pull up down the back straight. There might be an explanation for that later on, so we'll see. I had a hood on him, but maybe he doesn't need it anymore."