Going left-handed 'a concern' for Paul Townend - but will Gaelic Warrior's class shine in match race?

Earlier this week we were preparing for Gaelic Warrior versus Marine Nationale. Instead, Gaelic Warrior takes on the top two in the Brown Advisory market, so he will need to be every bit as good as everyone seems to think he is to dispose of that pair and, as we all know, he is going the wrong way around. 

Willie Mullins said he was "swaying towards" the Irish Arkle for Gaelic Warrior a few days ago, but he reshuffled his novice chasing pack midweek and opted for this longer race for six-year-old who already has two Grade 1 wins on his CV. 

The most recent of those arrived in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas. The post-race spat between cousins Patrick and Danny Mullins was the biggest talking point, but we shouldn't forget just how impressive Gaelic Warrior was. 

He didn't just win, he brushed aside a quality field as though they were middle-of-the-road handicappers. The display was dripping in class and he is now as short as 4-5 for the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. 

He has suffered two defeats since joining Mullins and both of those came at Cheltenham. He is five from five everywhere else. Will his wayward jumping stop him from making it three from three over fences? That is the poser for punters. 

His task has been made significantly easier, with Grangeclare West ruled out having been cast in his box and Gordon Elliott pulling out American Mike due to the ground and Found A Fifty after he ran on Saturday.

Gaelic Warrior's sole rival is stablemate Fact To File, who looked a completely different horse to the one we saw against American Mike on his chasing debut when winning the same beginners' chase Galopin Des Champs won at Leopardstown's Christmas festival. 

He was always in his comfort zone and his jumping was assured. The Racing Post Rating he got for that is just 3lb shy of the 163 Galopin Des Champs was handed. He is a classy operator and will surely keep Gaelic Warrior honest. 

Gaelic Warrior 'getting more manageable'

Paul Townend believes the more runs Gaelic Warrior has, the more manageable he becomes. The champion jockey cannot wait to be reunited with the tearaway after missing his Faugheen Novice Chase win at Limerick over Christmas to ride Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown in the Savills. 

Writing in his Ladbrokes blog, Townend said: "Obviously, there was talk about going for the shorter race, but he steps up in trip for this. Going left-handed is obviously a concern, although he won at this festival in a handicap hurdle last year. Hopefully, he behaves himself. The more runs he gets the more manageable he is. He's a very exciting novice chaser."

Read Sunday's previews

1.40 Leopardstown: 'I'm not concerned about going back to two miles' - Ballyburn drops in trip for first foray into Grade 1 company   

2.10 Leopardstown: El Fabiolo out to cement status as king of the two-mile division in the Dublin Chase   

2.45 Leopardstown: Daryl Jacob 'might try something different' on Impaire Et Passe in bid to end State Man dominance in Irish Champion Hurdle   

3.00 Musselburgh: 'He's a big price' - who thinks their mount could outrun their odds in the Pertemps qualifier?   

3.20 Leopardstown: 'I think he'll take a bit of beating' - key analysis and quotes for fiercely competitive handicap chase   

3.35 Musselburgh: Can Thunder Rock bounce back from 'very uncharacteristic' Cheltenham flop in Scottish Champion Chase?   

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