Patrick Mullins is thrilled to have the opportunity to renew his association with Gaelic Warrior in the Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase at Aintree on Thursday.
Willie Mullins has saddled two previous winners of the Grade One feature in Florida Pearl (2002) and Kemboy (2019) and is this year double-handed, with last year's Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior joined by stablemate Embassy Gardens, who is the pick of stable jockey Paul Townend.
"I got a phone call to say Paul was going to ride Embassy Gardens and would I like to ride Gaelic Warrior and I said I wouldn’t like to, I’d love to!" said the record-breaking amateur, who is no stranger to top-level success with Rich Ricci’s charge.
"We had a great day when winning the Grade One in Limerick last season and I was second in the two-mile Grade One in Leopardstown at Christmas earlier this year.
"He’s a horse who has his good and his bad days, but when he’s good he’s very, very good."
Gaelic Warrior has had to make do with minor honours behind Joseph O’Brien’s Solness on each of his two starts this season, finishing second under Mullins at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting before being beaten into third at the Dublin Racing Festival when ridden by Townend.
Having since missed the Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old faces a big rise in distance on Merseyside, with Mullins hoping the enhanced stamina test will make up for the fact he will not encounter his favoured soft ground.
"He won a three-mile Grade One novice hurdle over three miles on good ground, so I think going up in trip will negate the fact that it’s good ground rather than heavy ground," he added.
"He’s obviously been chasing Solness around Leopardstown, so hopefully he’ll settle going a stride or two slower over three miles.
"It’s a fantastic race. Obviously this season hasn’t gone as we would have liked for him, but I’m delighted to get back on him and if I can get the best out of him, I think he’s as good as any horse in the race, if not better."
Embassy Gardens impressed on his seasonal debut at Tramore on New Year’s Day before finishing sixth behind esteemed stable companion Galopin Des Champs in Leopardstown’s Irish Gold Cup.
Mullins, who is also assistant to his father, added: "He’s an unexposed, improving horse and is working very well at home. Paul has decided he wants to ride him and Paul doesn’t get it wrong too often – hopefully he has this time!"
The likely favourite is Grey Dawning, who impressed in beating leading Grand National contender Iroko in early March, and trainer Dan Skelton has had his eyes on this prize for a while.
He said: "He’s been really good since Kelso. We obviously kept him away from Cheltenham this year, but he’s looking great and hopefully the freshness will be a big asset to him – I’ve just been very happy with him.
"He was great at Kelso, got into a lovely rhythm and I was very happy with him and I would say the ground on Thursday will really suit him."
Dual Grade One-winning novice chaser Spillane’s Tower made an excellent start to the current campaign when splitting Mullins aces Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown.
Jimmy Mangan’s stable star failed to run up to expectations when fifth in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, but connections are anticipating better at Aintree following a three-month break.
"He’s an exciting horse and he had a good season last season. Jimmy is really happy with him and he’s going to Aintree in good form and we’re hoping for a good run," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.
"Things didn’t work out for him in the King George and he took a bit of time to get over it. Jimmy thinks he’s back to where he wants him again, so we’re looking forward to seeing him."
Kennedy to sit out rest of season
Jack Kennedy will not only sit out of this week's Grand National Festival, but also the rest of the season through injury.
The Irish champion jockey broke his leg for a sixth time at Fairyhouse in November and despite making a return at the Cheltenham Festival he has been back on the sidelines since taking a fall aboard Corbetts Cross in the Gold Cup.
He would have enjoyed a stellar book of rides for Gordon Elliott at Aintree, including Three Card Brag in the Grand National, but keen to give his injuries plenty of time to heal, the 25-year-old will also miss the spring festivals on home soil at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
Elliott explained: "Jack will be out until the end of the season, but he’s our first jockey and as soon as he’s back he’ll be back riding all the horses."
