Gaelic Warrior set to run in the Arkle instead of the Turners at Cheltenham Festival

9 months ago 61

RICH RICCI says Gaelic Warrior is likely to run in the Arkle on the opening day of Cheltenham.

The six-year-old was expected to head to the Turners’ Novices Chase over two and a half miles later in the week.

Rich Ricci has signalled that the Arkle is Gaelic Warrior’s big Cheltenham target[/caption]

But with the ground currently soft and the likelihood of further rain during Festival week, Ricci and trainer Willie Mullins have had a change of heart.

And the recent defection of the big-race favourite Marine Nationale also played a part in them deciding to give the two-mile Grade 1 a crack.

The horse is a 4-1 shot for both the Arkle and the Turners’, but he is likely to shorten for the former race with the target all but firmed up.

Gaelic Warrior has hit the crossbar in his previous two visits to Cheltenham, finishing second in both the Fred Winter in 2022 and Ballymore Novice Hurdle last year – so they will be hoping he can go one better now.

Ricci said: “We are very much leaning towards the Arkle. For as while we have been thinking Turners’, but we just think the two-mile race but suit him best.

“It’s an open-looking race and he has to put his defeat at Leopardstown behind him, but Willie thinks he is in good form and I’m more than happy to drop back in trip.”

There will be no change of plan for Lossiemouth, however, with the five-year-old still on course for the Mares’ Hurdle.

There had been speculation they could reroute to the Champion Hurdle with Constitution Hill now out of the Festival, but Ricci said they are sticking to Plan A.

He said: “I had a conversation with Willie and it lasted all of about two seconds!

“The Mares’ has been the plan all along and we aren’t go to change now, even with Constitution Hill not there. We will have a go at the Champion Hurdle next year.”