Gaelic Warrior and Patrick Mullins brought up a third Grade 1 win of the day for Willie Mullins in the Brooklands Golden Miller Cronograph Bowl Chase at Aintree on Thursday.

The Rich Ricci-owned gelding sat at the back of the field which was led by Grey Dawning and Harry Skelton, with Stage Star and Harry Cobden contesting.

After the sixth fence, an open ditch, Stage Star narrowly took over the lead, with the eventual winner still waited with. Patrick Mullins remained cool as ice on the Maxios gelding until they had a circuit to go, where he began to gradually make some ground.

Gaelic Warrior still had some work to do approaching the third last where the leading pair began to pull away.

The winning pair moved up to join Grey Dawning in a share of the lead over the final fence, before staying on best to secure a three-length advantage.

First ride

Patrick Mullins said: “It’s the first time I’ve got to ride around the chase track here. It was a pleasant surprise when I was allowed to ride him because Paul (Townend) chose to ride Embassy Gardens. He settled fantastic and jumped really well and pretty straight. We thought he’d stay because he won over three miles as a novice hurdler, but you don’t really know until you try it in open class.

“My only problem was after two furlongs I had Ahoy Senor in front of me, and he was the one horse I didn’t want in front of me, so we were kind of in and out to get away from him a bit and then we went by him passing the stands so I could ride a race. He’s fallen asleep on me a couple of times and I’ve had to hop around on him a couple of times to get him to wake up.

“He’s just a very good horse. Over three miles that ground was fine, but over two miles he’s just not fast enough for top-class races. He’s versatile.”.

Paul's choice

Willie Mullins said: “It’s great that Patrick got on him. I thought Paul would ride him, but he chose Embassy Gardens.

“His main target was to get him round in one piece, and then if he was able to do that we all know he has the class. I’d been a little disappointed in his two previous runs, when he just didn’t fire, but he’d run well enough at Leopardstown and we thought he’d be better for it, but then he just wasn’t right for Cheltenham.

“I thought if I didn’t run him here I’d have to wait until Punchestown, so I thought we may as well run him here to get a race into him anyhow, so he’s done a bit more than that. I don’t think Patrick needs any confidence before Saturday, when he rides Nick Rockett, but it’s great for him to have a big success, and it’s great too for the Riccis, who have had a tough season, although they had a winner at Cheltenham with Lossiemouth."

Cracker

Dan Skelton, trainer of runner-up Grey Dawning said: “He ran a cracker, and I’m gutted not to have won.”

Paul Nicholls, trainer of third-placed Stage Star, said: “He put it up to them. He’s often disappointed here because he’s run at Cheltenham, but we decided to miss Cheltenham and it paid off. He probably got a bit outstayed going to the last; he’s been on the front end all the time and two smart horses beat him. We’ll campaign him next year over three miles and I’d say we’ll probably start in the Charlie Hall.

“He’s got to go left-handed, so we’ll have to make a plan working round that. But he’s a good horse who runs right to his best, right to his level - that’s got to be one of his best-ever runs today, and I’m thrilled with him.”