Townend and Ricci land historic Festival double

GAELIC

- By ADAM MORGAN

Warrior clear the hurdle on the way to victory at Cheltenham and, inset, the winning jockey with the Gold Cup

Warrior left the field toiling in his wake as he claimed an impressive victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.A sole runner for Willie Mullins in the most prestigious race on the National Hunt calendar, the 11-4 joint-favourite was ridden by Paul Townend and shared his position at the head of the market with Nicky Henderson's Jango Baie.

Rebecca Curtis’ Haiti Couleurs took up the running for Wales but faded turning for home, while Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man travelled well for a long way and might have had his owner dreaming before he too faded, as Gaelic Warrior swept ahead to win by eight lengths from Jango Baie.

Inothewayurthinkin ran a big race in third in his attempt to defend this crown.