Patrick Mullins excited to be going back into battle with Gaelic Warrior

Following a memorable success together last Christmas for a variety of different reasons, Patrick Mullins and Gaelic Warrior will be reunited in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.

The partnership claimed what was ultimately a clear-cut Grade One victory in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick 12 months ago, but what happened post-race grabbed the headlines.

Gaelic Warrior got in a minor barging match with stablemate Il Etait Temps on the run to the penultimate fence and Patrick Mullins appeared to react angrily to that incident, berating his cousin Danny as the pair pulled up after the winning line.

Speaking afterwards, Patrick said: “I told Danny going out that there will be a gap on my inside going down to the second-last and ‘do not come for it’ but he hasn’t listened to me. Luckily it didn’t get the two of us beaten.” While Willie Mullins added: “I had my son and my nephew trying to kill each other!”

Both riders made light of the incident once the dust had settled and both horses went on to enjoy fine campaigns, with Gaelic Warrior claiming Cheltenham Festival glory in the Arkle.

The six-year-old will be a warm order to bag another big-race success on Friday, but with his mount having been off the track since being beaten by Il Etait Temps at Punchestown in the spring, Patrick Mullins is taking nothing for granted.

He said: “I’m delighted to get back on Gaelic Warrior – hopefully Danny doesn’t put his nose where he shouldn’t this year!

“Leopardstown maybe hasn’t seen him at his best in the past and obviously he’s making his first start of the season against horses who have had a run, so it won’t be straightforward.

“He is the best horse in the race, but if there is a day that he might be vulnerable this year, it might be this. But we’re very happy with him at home and we’re expecting a big run and I can’t wait to get back on him.”

Gaelic Warrior is one of four runners for Willie Mullins, with Danny aboard Gentleman De Mee, Mark Walsh riding Dinoblue and Daryl Jacob partnering Blue Lord.

Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty is bang-in-form following successive Grade Two wins, while Barry Connell is confident of a bold showing from his stable star Marine Nationale, who blew away any cobwebs when second to Quilixios in a Grade Three at Naas last month.

Connell said: “As you know, he had a shortened season last year, so he was kind of light on experience going into Naas. We’ve given him a racecourse school since then and we were very happy with the way he jumped.

“He’s going to relish the good ground tomorrow – it’s probably the first time since he won his maiden hurdle that he’s got the proper good ground that he wants.

“He’s a course and distance winner and we couldn’t be happier with the way he’s working, so we’re expecting him to be very competitive.

“They’re all there, but we wouldn’t swap our guy for anything else. We have him in the shape we want him and we think conditions will suit.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Captain Guinness also features in a quality field.