The talented Gaelic Warrior transferred his hurdling ability to fences with a wide-margin success in the Conway Piling Beginners Chase at Punchestown.
Gaelic Warrior only found stablemate Impaire Et Passe too strong when runner-up in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, before running out an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown a month later.
The son of Maxios had been set to stay over hurdles this season but connections opted to switch to chasing. Willie Mullins' five-year-old jumped well in behind stablemate Figaroc over the first few fences before Paul Townend let his mount stride on with purpose. He soon opened up a healthy advantage and with a round of solid jumping, the Rich Ricci-owned gelding eased clear for a commanding fifteen-length success. Inothewayurthinkin won the battle for the runner-up spot, Senior Chief back in third.
Paddy Power cut the winner from 6/1 to 4/1 favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham next March.
"It was a very good performance, way better than I expected. I thought he was a bit novicey at one or two but never looked like falling and he ran very fresh today," Mullins said.
"We all know he stays, and he might go a longer trip, but maybe after that performance, I need to have a rethink about him. He'd have no problem going two and a half miles and two miles would be no problem to him either the way he ran there.
"We thought there would be a lot more pace in the race, but it seemed to evaporate, and Paul was happy enough to make it. He was just a bit gassy today on his first run and maybe he will settle later on in the season."
"It was a very good performance, way better than I expected. I thought he was a bit novicey at one or two but never looked like falling and he ran very fresh today," Mullins said.
"We all know he stays, and he might go a longer trip, but maybe after that performance, I need to have a rethink about him. He'd have no problem going two and a half miles and two miles would be no problem to him either the way he ran there.
"We thought there would be a lot more pace in the race, but it seemed to evaporate, and Paul was happy enough to make it. He was just a bit gassy today on his first run and maybe he will settle later on in the season."
