ULTIMATE WARRIOR

Willie's worthy deputy to score Gold Cup glory

- By The Scout (Melissa Jones)

GAELIC WARRIOR (4.00) is fancied to be an able deputy for Galopin Des Champs in the £625,000 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend were disappointed when the two-time champion picked up an injury when building up to the meeting's signature event.

Before the setback, he had finished third in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, with Gaelic Warrior a place in front of him.

My selection travelled with plenty of zest throughout for his handler's son Patrick, only finding an inform Fact To File too strong by five lengths at the line.

Early positioning is likely to influence how the race pans out for Gaelic Warrior, who could do with some cover to help him stay the full three miles, two-and-a-half furlongs.

But Townend has been tactically excellent this week and he got the best out of Lossiemouth and Il Etait Temps with two different rides.

Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man is a fascinating contender, along with the Nicky Henderson-prepped Jango Baie, right, who promises to stay - and the top three are the right age based on trends for seven and eight-year-olds.