Gaelic Warrior made it a perfect two from two over fences when breezing to victory in the Grade 1 Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.
Sent off the 4/7 market leader to take the step up in grade over fences in his stride, the Rich Ricci-owned runner quickly got himself into a nice jumping rhythm after an early mistake.
A Grade 1 winner over hurdles at Punchestown last season, Gaelic Warrior always travelled powerfully at the head of affairs and looked to have the race in safekeeping as he cruised into the lead approaching the second last under Patrick Mullins.
However, there was to be some drama in the Grade 1 two-mile three-and-a-half-furlong prize as Danny Mullins, cousin of Patrick, made a somewhat daring move on Il Etait Temps towards the inside of his stablemate, who has a customary trait of jumping right.
Both managed to jump the last safely and Gaelic Warrior quickened up in taking fashion to record an effortless five-and-a-half-length success, although Patrick Mullins was seemingly very unimpressed by the move cousin Danny down towards the second last and made sure to show his discontent as the pair crossed the winning line. Il Est Temps finished back in second with the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin filling the bronze medal spot.
Mullins said: "That was super, and he settled away going his own gallop. I was trying to get him to pop early on, but he wasn't too sure of that, so I let him jump. He loves the ground, won as he liked and jumped well once he got into a rhythm.
"He has been beaten twice at Cheltenham and it doesn't really suit him as he jumps good and right. That said the Turners Chase is on the New course (at Cheltenham) which is slightly less tight than the Old course.
"He is most definitely a different horse going right-handed, but Cheltenham is Cheltenham. I'm not sure what Willie has in mind for him, and I think the way he jumps, maybe two and a half miles on soft ground is his best trip."
On the incident that occurred with Cousin Danny approaching the second-last, Patrick added:
"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.
"You see that in beginners chases and in maiden hurdles where the horses in second and third don't go after the leader going a half-stride faster, so I think the (winning distance) in his beginners was exaggerated.
"Rachel Robbins looks after him and does a great job with him."
Paddy Power were seemingly impressed and made Gaelic Warrior their even money favourite (from 15/8) to the Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The same firm halved him in price to 7/1 to land the 2024 King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day next year.
