Gaelic Warrior earned a Timeform rating of 174 for his commanding eight-length victory in Friday's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was claiming a sixth career success at the highest level and comprehensively reversed King George form from earlier in the season with The Jukebox Man, who trailed home eighth of the 10 runners. Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie had also finished a place behind Gaelic Warrior when a close-up fourth in the King George.
Gaelic Warrior's revised rating places him between Mullins' previous Gold Cup winners Al Boum Photo (171) and Galopin des Champs (181), who were both dual winners of the blue riband event.
Timeform jumps handicapper Phil Turner said: "Gaelic Warrior became just the second Arkle winner to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup after Alverton in 1979 - and he was chased home by another Arkle winner for good measure!
"It was fitting Gaelic Warrior could complete that rare double as he's been a remarkably versatile horse from early in his career, winning both a valuable two-mile handicap and a Grade 1 three-mile novice within a few months during his hurdling days.
"His two wins this season have also come in starkly different fashion, an exuberant display from the front in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown back in November bearing little relation to Friday's powerful staying performance under more measured tactics.
"It was a top-class effort and propelled his Timeform rating to 174, one which places him between Mullins' two previous Gold Cup heroes Al Boum Photo (171) and Galopin des Champs (181).
"That said, in some ways the last 48 hours have been all about the Mullins-trained chaser stood in his box. Fact To File has comprehensively beaten both Heart Wood and Gaelic Warrior over the past 12 months and their wide-margin wins in the Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup respectively left one thinking what might have been had he been allowed to take his chance in either."
Cheltenham Festival coverage
- Gaelic Warrior storms to victory
- Shock 50/1 winner in Triumph Hurdle
- Festival delight for Snowden
- Rest of Friday reports and reaction
- Cheltenham Festival results
- Join Sporting Life Plus for free
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.