Tag Archive for: Galopin Des Champs

Slevin backing Banbridge to challenge Galopin Des Champs

Jockey J J Slevin is confident King George hero Banbridge can give Galopin Des Champs a run for his money in his bid for a third victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Galopin Des Champs is an odds-on favourite to join racing legends like Arkle and Best Mate by becoming a three-time winner of the blue riband at Prestbury Park, after continuing his dominance of the division by completing a hat-trick in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Slevin, though, knows what it takes to beat the Willie Mullins-trained superstar, having steered the currently sidelined Fastorslow to successive victories over him in the Punchestown Gold Cup, and believes Banbridge has “as good a chance as anyone” of denying Galopin Des Champs in the Cotswolds.

“Banbridge is a different beast to ride to Fastorslow in that he’s actually a little bit of a lazy racer, whereas Fastorslow would travel around and be there for you whenever you wanted him,” said the County Wexford-born rider.

“Banbridge takes a little bit of warming up to get into it and I think that’s a good thing for a Gold Cup, three-mile-two around Cheltenham and there’s a lot of galloping from the second-last to the line, and the fact that he’s able to win over two miles is massive because he should go through the race easier and jump quicker than your average three-miler.

“We should be landing there doing everything effortlessly and then he either stays or he doesn’t, at the end of the day.

“It’s hard to say you’re going to beat Galopin Des Champs, but do I think he can give him a race? Yes, very much so. My lad is uncomplicated, Paul (Townend) is going to do his thing and we’ll do our thing and see what happens as the race unfolds.

“I think I’ve as good a chance as anyone of beating him at present, looking at the field for the Gold Cup.”

Banbridge (right) on his way to winning the King George VI Chase
Banbridge (right) on his way to winning the King George VI Chase (John Walton/PA)

The journalism graduate missed out on steering Banbridge to big-race success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day as he was required to ride at Leopardstown, meaning Galopin Des Champs’ regular partner Townend came in for a plum spare.

Slevin is fully expected to be reunited with Joseph O’Brien’s charge at Cheltenham, however, and feels he has all the attributes to go close – provided underfoot conditions are in his favour.

He added: “He has a very good way of racing and he’s uncomplicated to ride. You can put him anywhere in a race and that’s going to be a big asset to him, as it’s not like a two-mile horse going up to three miles that is running on their nerves for the first mile and winging fences and doing too much.

“Good ground, as everyone knows, is his thing. We haven’t had that for the last two years, but all you need is one dry day and come Gold Cup time, the ground would be fine for Banbridge and I think he could run a big race.”

El Fabiolo in action at Cork
El Fabiolo in action at Cork (Niall Carson/PA)

Having succeeded the retiring Daryl Jacob as retained rider for prominent owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede early in the new year, Slevin can look forward to sporting the double green on several occasions at Cheltenham next month, with El Fabiolo likely to be among his high-profile rides.

Winner of the Arkle two years ago but disappointingly pulled up after making a bad mistake as a red-hot favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase last year, the eight-year-old fell at the second fence in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown, with Slevin in the saddle for the first time.

Trainer Willie Mullins has since suggested El Fabiolo could step up in trip for a tilt at the Ryanair Chase at the Festival and his rider feels that could be a good move.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get far enough to really find out what would have happened the other day. It was just one of those things, he got in a bit tight and caught the top of a big fence in Leopardstown and there’s no hiding place,” said Slevin.

“Hopefully he’ll have a little think about what happened to him and go racing with a clearer mind the next day.”

He went on: “When you hear Willie Mullins say something like that (stepping up in trip), you tend not to disagree. I think they had it in the back of their minds from the end of last year maybe. He’s a phenomenal horse and all going well, that could work the oracle for him.

“Honestly, the other day I went out thinking he was the best horse in the race and he probably was the best horse in the race. That is not to say he was going to win, but I felt if he turned up and everything went well, he was the one they would all have to beat.

“You’d be excited about him stepping up in trip and the ball might just hop a bit different for him over two-five.”

On his new role, Slevin added: “It was an honour to be asked by Simon and Isaac when Daryl retired and every day I go into the weighing room and see those colours by my peg, I feel proud.

“They’re great people to work with, they have a great team of horses and great trainers and the big thing is there’s a real team atmosphere to it – everyone is in it together.

“The week is not hugely different. I’m going into Willie Mullins’ a good bit more now and obviously Nigel Twiston-Davies has a few horses and Nicky Henderson as well. It’s great to be able to go over and ride out for those people – for me, it’s pretty cool.”



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Mullins hoping he will be Galopin into the history books

Willie Mullins is doing his best not to think Galopin Des Champs is going to match Arkle and Best Mate with a third Cheltenham Gold Cup – but he knows a “once in a lifetime” achievement is tantalisingly close.

Golden Miller famously won the race five times in the 1930s while Cottage Rake was a hat-trick hero between 1948 and 1950, but Arkle and Best Mate have defined the modern era of the storied staying chase.

While Arkle will always stand on his own in National Hunt folklore, it takes a genuine great to win the blue riband three times in a row and the Henrietta Knight-trained Best Mate was the last to do it, between 2002 and 2004.

Galopin Des Champs (right) will bid for a Gold Cup hat-trick
Galopin Des Champs (right) will bid for a Gold Cup hat-trick (Jockey Club)

The nine-year-old Galopin Des Champs landed his third Irish Gold Cup at the weekend, and now all roads lead to his date with destiny in the Boodles-sponsored showpiece on March 14.

“The reception Galopin Des Champs got in Leopardstown was huge, I’ve never seen anything like it I think. It was just a tremendous reception,” said Mullins.

“The Gold Cup is five weeks on Friday and I’d love another week. With those staying chasers you’d like a minimum of six weeks, but the race the other day was our Irish Gold Cup and to me if you have a horse good enough for it, you must respect the race and the meeting and go there.

“To us here it’s unbelievable that we’ve got a horse that’s going for a third Gold Cup and could be in the Best Mate/Arkle category.

“To be associated with a horse like this who is so well known now is a huge honour. We’re all delighted to be involved and we just hope the dream stays alive.

“We’ve got five plus weeks for that day to come and I’m not dreaming it will happen. If you think it’s going to happen it probably won’t, so I’m going in the opposite direction.

“If this horse can do what Arkle and Best Mate did, it’s a once in a lifetime job, isn’t it? I think there was 40 years between them, so we’re maybe 20 years too soon!

“We had a go with Al Boum Photo, but he couldn’t win the third. I think we’ve a bit more of a chance this year.”



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Galopin Des Champs remains on course for Gold Cup hat-trick bid

Dual winner Galopin Des Champs leads the way as 15 horses remain in contention for next month’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Willie Mullins’ charge is odds-on to become the first three-time winner of the Festival showpiece since Best Mate in 2004 having claimed another tremendous success in Saturday’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Stablemates Grangeclare West and Fact To File filled the places in that race and both could try their luck again at Prestbury Park, although Mullins has taken out Embassy Gardens and Minella Cocooner after they finished down the field.

Gordon Elliott announced on Monday Gerri Colombe was sidelined for the remainder of the season and he has been withdrawn along with Il Est Francais, who holds alternative engagements in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase.

Dan Skelton took Grey Dawning out of the latter event but he is still in the Gold Cup, although the trainer has indicated he may bypass Cheltenham entirely.

The Ryanair Chase has 28 possibles following the latest forfeit stage, with Fact To File currently favourite. The withdrawals include Embassy Gardens and the Gold Cup-entered Ahoy Senor as well as Il Ridoto, Martator and Stage Star.

Jonbon dominates the Champion Chase market following a faultless season so far and is the headline act among 20 Champion Chase contenders.

Sunday’s Leopardstown winner Solness is among the possibles rivals, along with familiar foe Energumene and Gaelic Warrior, who was a Dublin Racing Festival disappointment.

King George hero Banbridge still has the option of all three Grade One chases, but American Mike, Blue Lord, Boothill, Gentleman De Mee, Kalif Du Berlais and Martator will not be contesting the two-mile crown.

All three races still have supplementary stages, with the Champion Chase on March 6, the Ryanair a day later and the Gold Cup on March 8.



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Monday Musings: Of The Kid and DRF

Amid all the extravagantly impressive performances of Wilie Mullins’ three winners on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, I must say I was transfixed by one less predictable show a little nearer to home, writes Tony Stafford. Anyway, that’s how I would describe Musselburgh for us down south.

I had spoken to Nicky Richards on Saturday morning about the chance of The Kalooki Kid in the bet365 Scottish Champion Handicap Chase over 2m4.5f, surprised that his seven-year-old was as short as 11/4 for this £100k, £51k to the winner prize.

Nicky was optimistic, saying he had jumped very well at Doncaster (only second time over fences) and he was hopeful as long as the jumping held up.

Let’s put it in perspective. After a debut for the season when second over two miles at Ayr (12 fences) and a win where a few of the potential dangers fell at crucial stages when admittedly he had already taken charge long before the 15th and final fence, he came to Musselburgh having jumped 27 fences in public.

Now, off a tough enough 131 having been raised 7lb for Doncaster, the son of marathon flat-racer Gentlewave, out of a Flemensfirth mare, faced 11 opponents on Saturday. You can add to his two chase runs, six with two wins over hurdles last season, but a starting price of 2/1? Never.

The said opponents had all won over fences and in terms of experience had The Kalooki Kid by his extremities. None had raced fewer than eight times previously over fences, with four of them having won five times each. Adding their hurdles tally to the chase totals, the least number of runs was 16 – in one case – and it was mostly around 20, compared with the Richards’ horse’s eight. More pertinently, the 11 had collected 38 wins in chases before Saturday.

As I said, Nicky was hopeful the jumping would hold up. Regular partner Danny McMenamin settled him on the inside from the start; initially in around fifth in the running and going past the stands was soon in third, the leaps uniformly accurate without being in any way flashy.

By the time they turned for home with four to go, The Kalooki Kid was in a close second place, poised to tackle the long-time leader Saint Segal. A superior jump four out soon had him in front and still going easily.

Saint Segal had bolted up the time before for the Jane Williams stable at Newbury in December, his third win over fences and fifth in all. He battled bravely as for the second time running, The Kalooki Kid reckoned he’d done enough once clear on the run-in, but he still had more than two lengths to spare at the line.

So here we have a horse, bought at the Landrover sale in Ireland by Richards for €40k in June 2021.  Allowed to mature just as his father, the late Gordon W, would have done in his years bossing Greystoke Stables, and now the rewards should be flowing in the yard’s time-honoured manner, granted the required good luck.

With a pedigree like his, three miles should not be a problem, so now it’s down to the trainer to plot the right path. At 68, it’s remarkable that Nicky was still riding out until last autumn when he had an awful fall, breaking his pelvis among other injuries. The rehabilitation has been going steadily, and it would be great to see him back on track in time to witness the future triumphs from his new stable star.

The 2024/25 season has been building up nicely with 21 wins (and almost £400k in prizes) so far and, as well as The Kalooki Kid, he can look forward to further success with the likes of recent impressive bumper scorer They’re Chancers.

**

It was to be expected that Galopin Des Champs buttoned up the first part of the unheard-of triple double when adding a third successive Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown to the two Cheltenham Gold Cups which he has collected in between.

He might have been beaten twice since Cheltenham at right-handed Punchestown by Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow and then stablemate Fact To File, but as Willie Mullins would say, it’s not what you lose that matters, it’s what you win.

The same Fact To File was in this three-miler on Saturday and like three or four others was poised just behind the champion as he as usual led the field into the short home straight with one to jump. Then, Paul Townend asked and Galopin Des Champs delivered. The finishing burst obliterated any challenge.

It was a similar situation with last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough as he made it two from two since Cheltenham. In a display of raw power rather than slick jumping he made the considerable opposition in the Irish Champion Chase look much less that it had appeared beforehand.

Now he is poised for yet another of those titanic Mullins/Nicky Henderson battles in ‘the’ Arkle at Cheltenham with Sir Gino. Two emerging giants – redolent almost of the Mill House/ Arkle jousts in the 1960’s which so enthralled racegoers for almost three years until Arkle proved his immortality.

The third Mullins winner came in the opening race. The fact that the horse to be called Final Demand was sold for €230k as long ago as June 2022 suggested somebody knew something. The buyer waited until last March before sending him to a point-to-point which he won with ease.

He was then persuaded to let him go and it would be interesting to know how much Brian Drew and Professor Caroline Tisdall needed to shell out for him.

Anyway, they won’t be crying after an easy win at Limerick between Christmas and the New Year and Saturday’s exceptional 12-length victory in the opening Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors €88k to the winner Novice Hurdle over 2m6f. Mullins had four back-up runners in this and far from creaming the place money, all he had to show was 4th, 5th and two pulled ups including the second favourite Supersundae.

Final Demand will be a banker to follow Ballyburn in the 2m5f novice hurdle at Cheltenham while Ballyburn showed he was back in business after finding Sir Gino too speedy over two miles at Kempton at Christmas time. Back to the distance of last year’s hurdle win at the Festival, Ballyburn slaughtered yesterday’s opposition in the Ladbrokes Grade 1 Novice Chase.

Briefly returning to Final Demand, a son of Walk In The Park, he has the same broodmare sire, Flemensfirth, as The Kalooki Kid. Walk In The Park has been a shining light among Coolmore’s main jumps station, Grange Stud, for the past ten seasons in which time fee has always been advertised as “private”.

His story is odd enough. Runner-up in Michael Tabor’s colours in the Derby, a son of Montjeu, also a Tabor horse and a dual Classic winner (French and Irish Derby), Walk In The Park won only once (as a juvenile) in 14 career starts. Initially standing at stud in France, the year before his transfer to Ireland, his last publicised fee was €1,500. How do they do it? Like Willie Mullins, no doubt, talent and dedication.

We were promised a thriller between two Mullins horses in the Irish Champion Hurdle. State Man had won the last two along with last year’s Champion Hurdle proper in the absence of Constitution Hill, but the market settled on the younger mare Lossiemouth who had put in a spirited show when second to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

But the clash evaporated into a damp squib down the back straight as Lossiemouth fell, leaving State Man, who narrowly avoided being caught up in the tumble, to collect the €112k first prize. Daddy Long Legs, in the winner’s second colours of Mrs Donnelly, stayed on best to get the “measly” €38k second prize for what was almost a school round until he was asked to go faster in the last half mile and beat two other no-hopers. Was there no UK horse thought capable of nicking one of those lavish place prizes?

Well done then to Warren Greatrex for his enterprise in sending over Good And Clever for the novice hurdle won easily by Mullins’ Kopek Des Bordes. Kopek will be a strong favourite for the Supreme Novice at Cheltenham, but Good And Clever collected €13.5k for his owners Jim and Claire Bryce, as the sole UK runner on the day. That following an unplaced Henry Daly runner – 33/1 as top-weight in a three-mile handicap hurdle the previous afternoon.

- TS



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Relentless Galopin Des Champs completes Irish Gold Cup hat-trick

Galopin Des Champs continued his love affair with Leopardstown and added his name to the history books by winning a third Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He joined Jodami and Beef Or Salmon on three wins in the race and it would take a brave man to say Willie Mullins’ champion will not ultimately emulate his trainer’s first top-class horse, Florida Pearl, who holds the record with four.

A third Cheltenham Gold Cup will now be on his agenda and having briefly looked in trouble on the run to the last, challengers next month will be scratching their heads about how to beat him given the way he powered away.

Paul Townend wanted an easy lead like he had at Christmas but this time there were a few who were out to make sure he would not get it.

Embassy Gardens, Monty’s Star and Hewick were all prominent and there were still several more in with a chance on the turn for home.

Mark Walsh had moved Fact To File menacingly into a challenging position, while another stablemate, Grangeclare West, was massively outrunning his odds.

Jumping the last, there were almost four in a line, but on landing Galopin Des Champs stamped his authority on the race.

He stormed home to win by four and three-quarter lengths as the 1-2 favourite and Grangeclare West caught Fact To File on the line for second to give Mullins a clean sweep.

Paddy Power cut Galopin Des Champs to 8-13 from 8-11 favourite for a third Gold Cup next month.

“Paul has huge faith in him and said he was just going to jump out and go with him,” said Mullins.

Dublin Racing Festival 2025 – Day One – Leopardstown Racecourse
Paul Townend celebrates aboard Galopin Des Champs (Damien Eagers/PA).

“I thought we might make it with Embassy Gardens. There were four or five upsides him jumping the first but he had burned them off by the time he got to the third.

“He just jumped and galloped for three miles and it didn’t look like he was stopping coming up to the winning post.

“He’s just a real champion.

“They were all taking him on, there were plenty of horses up there and there was no diminishing the pace at all during the whole race. It was an out-and-out stayers race.

“I was focused on the race and getting over the last and everyone in front of me in the stands stood up so I couldn’t see, so I was trying to watch the television.

“I was trying to watch and see if there was something coming out of the clouds, but sure enough, when I got to see him again, he was clear.”

He went on: “I thought Fact To File would be a bit closer but Mark was happy that he had settled well and was going to leave him settled and have one go at him, and that’s what he did.

“He only finished third in the end.”

When asked if Galopin Des Champs was the best he had ever trained, Mullins added: “He has to be, you’d have to say that.

“Hurricane Fly is there and it’s going to be hard to beat his record. This is the best chaser I’ve trained and Hurricane Fly the best hurdler.

“Everyone loves Audrey (Turley), who owns him. She wears her heart on her sleeve and she’s wonderful. People see how much she enjoys the horse and I think that reflects the way they feel for her as well.

“He goes out and takes it from the front and grabs races by the scruff of the neck – and he battles off everyone.”



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Galopin going for Gold hat-trick at Leopardstown

Galopin Des Champs puts his impeccable Leopardstown record on the line, as he leads Willie Mullins’ crack Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup team into battle seeking his third straight victory in the Dublin Racing Festival feature.

The nine-year-old may have won two Cheltenham Gold Cups but it is arguably in the Irish capital where he is at his ultimate best, unbeaten over the larger obstacles at the Foxrock track.

Having excelled once again at the venue when gaining John Durkan revenge over stablemate Fact To File in the Savills Chase at Christmas, he will be a short price to add to his trainer’s record 13 victories in the Grade One event.

“I’m delighted how he’s come out of his race at Christmas,” said Mullins.

“To me, Galopin was awesome and he’s put in two huge performances in Leopardstown, the Irish Gold Cup (last year) and the Savills (at Christmas).

“We hope he can do it one more time.”

Victory for Galopin Des Champs would see him join greats Jodami and Beef Or Salmon on three wins in the race, while it would put him just one behind Florida Pearl, the original Closutton superstar who triumphed four times at Leopardstown between 1999 and 2004.

Galopin Des Champs in action at Christmas
Galopin Des Champs in action at Christmas (Damien Eagers/PA)

However, it may prove easy for Mullins to feel confident heading into the contest, as if Galopin Des Champs were to falter, he has five others lying in wait to pick up the pieces.

Fact To File looks to be best placed of the Closutton team to down his stablemate for a second time this season, with his big-race pilot Mark Walsh tasked with conjuring up a new plan to topple the stable number one.

Mullins continued: “I think we will have to do something different with Fact To File. I’ll leave that to Mark and see what he wants to do, he might have a different tactic up his sleeve, but we’ll leave that until the parade ring before the race.”

Fact To File claimed the scalp of Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown
Fact To File claimed the scalp of Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA)

Also on the Mullins teamsheet are Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Minella Cocooner, Grangeclare West and Embassy Gardens, with the latter arriving after winning in good style at Tramore on New Year’s Day and proving an able deputy in the staying division for the owners’ injured Fastorslow.

Mullins added: “We have a good team from Closutton going there. Embassy Gardens just disappointed us last year in the National Hunt Chase, so this year we were going down to Tramore and there was nothing making the pace.

“I said to Mikey (O’Sullivan) ‘you bounce out, he loves galloping, he loves jumping. Just see what happens’. It worked out fantastic.

“Mikey was really delighted with him and we were, Sean and Bernardine (Mulryan, owners) were as well. Fastorslow went and now they might have another horse to take over as their number one horse in him.

“We were gutted for Martin (Brassil, trainer of Fastorslow), because we know what it’s like having one competitive Grade One horse you are looking forward to the whole season.

“I know on one side you can think ‘well that’s one less to take on for the Gold Cup’, but for a fellow and colleague training, it’s a body punch.”

Monty’s Star was five lengths adrift of Embassy Gardens at Tramore, but trainer Henry de Bromhead is anticipating his latest staying star to improve for that outing.

“He ran a nice race in Tramore and we hope he’ll come on a lot for the run, obviously he needs to,” he said.

Monty’s Star (left) has plenty of talent
Monty’s Star (left) has plenty of talent (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We were happy and it was good to get started. He sort of goes on any ground. We had a few holds ups coming into the Tramore race and it probably wasn’t ideal, but we needed to get him started.

“His form looks good. Obviously Galopin has been brilliant and will be a hard one to beat, but hopefully we’ll give a good account of ourselves.”

Hewick returns to fences having competed over hurdles for Tara Lee Cogan at Christmas, while Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin and Gordon Elliott’s Conflated – the winner in 2022 – complete the field.



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2025 Irish Gold Cup Trends

Staged at Leopardstown racecourse the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup is run over a distance of 3m 1/2f, with 17 fences to be tackled.

First run in 1987, the contest now another recognised trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup run a month later with Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996), Sizing John (2017), Galopin Des Champs (2023 & 2024) the only horses to take both races in the same season.

Leading Irish trainer, Willie Mullins, is always feared as he’s sent out 13 of the last 25 runnings, including 4 of the last 6 renewals (Gordon Elliott the other two), while UK raiders have only taken 2 of the last 17 runnings with popular greys The Listener (2008) and 2012 Grand National hero, Neptune Collonges (2009).

Mullins is back for more in 2025 with his hat-trick-seeking Galopin Des Champs - as he looks to join the likes of Jodami and Florida Pearl as 3+ winners of the Irish Gold Cup.

However, the other main Irish yards of Gordon Elliott (2 wins), despite winning it in 2020 and 2022 and Henry de Bromhead (no wins) are yet to really stamp their mark on this prize the way Willie Mulins has.

Here at GeeGeez, we look back at recent winners and gives you all the key stats to take into the 2025 renewal – this year run on Saturday 1st February.

Recent Irish Gold Cup Winners

2024 - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/3 fav)
2023 – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (30/100 fav)
2022 – CONFLATED (18/1)
2021 - KEMBOY (11/4)
2020 - DELTA WORK (5/2)
2019 - BELLSHILL (2/1)
2018 - EDWULF (33/1)
2017 - SIZING JOHN (100/30)
2016 – CARLINGFORD LOUGH (20/1)
2015 – CARLINGFORD LOUGH (4/1)
2014 – LAST INSTALMENT (8/1)
2013 – SIR DES CHAMPS (11/8)
2012 – QUEL ESPRIT (5/4 fav)
2011 – KEMPES (5/1)
2010 – JONCOL (9/4 fav)
2009 – NEPTUNE COLLONGES (8/13 fav)
2008 – THE LISTENER (2/1 fav)
2007 – BEEF OR SALMON (11/4)
2006 – BEEF OR SALMON  (2/5 fav)
2005 – RULE SUPREME (11/2)
2004 – FLORIDA PEARL (5/1)
2003 – BEEF OR SALMON (Evs fav)

Irish Gold Cup Betting Trends

22/22 – Had run at Leopardstown over fences before
21/22 – Last ran was 6 weeks or less
19/22 – Had won over at least 3m before in their career (any code)
18/22– Aged 9 or younger
18/22 – Had won a Grade 1 Chase before
16/22 – Had won between 3-5 times over fences (rules) before
16/22 – Ran in the Savills Chase (Leopardstown) last time out
16/22 – Placed favourites
16/22 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
16/22 – Winners that went onto run in that season’s Gold Cup (3 winners, Galopin Des Champs 2023, 2024, Sizing John 2017)
14/22 – Irish-bred
14/22 – Had won over fences at Leopardstown before
14/22 – Rated 160 or higher
14/22 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
12/22 – Winning distance – 3 lengths or more
9/22 – Trained by Willie Mullins (13 wins in total)
9/22 – Won last time out
8/22 – Winning favourites
4/22 – Won by a previous winner of the race
2/22 – Won by a UK-based trainer
The average winning SP in the last 22 runnings is 11/2

 

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Galopin takes on nine rivals in hat-trick hunt

Galopin Des Champs is set to face nine rivals in his bid for a third victory in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Also a dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Willie Mullins’ superstar chaser will be a red-hot favourite to make it a hat-trick in the feature event on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival following another imperious display in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last month.

The nine-year-old will renew rivalry with several horses who finished behind him that day, most notably his stablemate Fact To File, who beat Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown earlier this season but was firmly put in his place over the festive period.

The champion trainer also saddles Embassy Gardens, who impressed at Tramore on New Year’s Day, as well as Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner in his bid for a 14th Irish Gold Cup success.

The biggest threat to the Mullins battalion appears to be Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star, who filled the runner-up spot behind Embassy Gardens at Tramore.

Conflated (Gordon Elliott), Hewick (Tara Lee Cogan) and Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell) complete the field.

The first of four Grade Ones on the card is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle and Mullins is responsible for five of the 12 runners declared, including Final Demand and Supersundae.

Cromwell’s course and distance winner Hello Neighbour is a narrow favourite for the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, while the Mullins-trained Majborough takes on stable companion Ile Atlantique as well as five other opponents in the Goffs Irish Arkle.



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Galopin Des Champs chasing Irish Gold Cup hat-trick

Galopin Des Champs is the star name in the line up as he aims to land his third success in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown.

The nine-year-old has been the winner of the Grade One for the past two seasons, both times taking the race in good style en route to a subsequent victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

His route through the campaign has followed a familiar path as he was third in the John Durkan on debut and then a runaway winner of Savills Chase over the Irish Gold Cup course and distance over Christmas.

He now returns to the track, where he has been beaten only once in seven runs, and leads a field of 11 entries for the feature race on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trainer Willie Mullins has also entered Fact To File, who defeated his stablemate in the John Durkan but was second in the Savills Chase.

Reigning Grand National hero I Am Maximus is also on the list for the stable, with Grangeclare West, Embassy Gardens and Minella Cocooner entered alongside him.

Christmas Festival – Leopardstown Racecourse – Saturday December 28th
Galopin Des Champs taking the Savills Chase last time out (Damien Eagers/PA)

Gordon Elliott is represented by Conflated, Mouse Morris has entered Gentlemansgame, Gavin Cromwell has Inothewayurthinkin and Henry de Bromhead will saddle Monty’s Star.

Tara Lee Cogan has entered Hewick for the contest, but a dry spell between now and the weekend will be essential if he is to run as soft going is not to his liking.

The 10-year-old was last seen reverting to smaller obstacles to contest the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown late last month, where he was fifth in a field of eight on yielding going.

“He’s been entered on Saturday but he’s ground dependent as usual, so I think we’ll make a decision in the week,” said Cogan.

“He came out of his last run grand and he’s in great form, it was just the ground was too holding for him that day and that isn’t what he likes.

“I suppose we’re in the same position going into this weekend, we won’t run him if he doesn’t get his ground.

Ladbrokes Christmas Festival – Day One – Kempton Park
Hewick en route to King George VI success (Steven Paston/PA)

“This morning I think it’s soft, hopefully we’ll get a couple of dry days but we’ll just have to wait and see.

“If we don’t run him then we’ll wait until Cheltenham in March and hope he gets his ground there, there’s nothing else to really run him in.”

A field of six could assemble for the Grade One Goffs Irish Arkle, with the Mullins team entering two very promising novice chasers in Ile Atlantique and Majborough.

Gordon Elliott’s Firefox and Touch Me Not take them on, with Patrick Neville due to send over Here Comes Georgie and Gearoid O’Loughlin rolling the dice with Jeannot Lapin.

The Mullins-trained pair of Sainte Lucie and Lady Vega Allen are to the fore in the Triumph Hurdle betting and feature among nine entries for the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, along with Gavin Cromwell’s Cheltenham contender Hello Neighbour.

Mullins also seemingly holds the key to the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle with Final Demand and Supasundae topping his contenders in a 14-strong field.



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Mullins ‘delighted’ with Galopin Des Champs ahead of Dublin Racing Festival

Willie Mullins is not expecting to replicate last year’s monumental achievement of winning all the Grade One races at the Dublin Racing Festival – but is confident he has staying star Galopin Des Champs fully primed to hunt a third Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.

The two-day Leopardstown spectacular has been a happy hunting ground for the perennial Irish champion trainer since its formation. But he proved more dominant than ever 12 months ago when winning nine of the meeting’s 17 races – eight at Grade One level.

He would go on to saddle the same amount of victors at the Cheltenham Festival en route to becoming not only the first man to go past 100 winners at the Prestbury Park showpiece but also claiming the British trainers’ title.

Willie Mullins with a memento at the Cheltenham Festival
Willie Mullins with a memento at the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)

However, Mullins stresses big-race success is never taken for granted at Closutton.

“I would say the eight winners wouldn’t happen again and it was just a phenomenal year – not just the Dublin Racing Festival, the whole year,” he said.

“We were written off at Christmas I think, or just before Christmas, by the keyboard warriors – and then the whole thing just came together. If someone came to you with a Hollywood script and said you are going to do this, this and this and finish off here, I wouldn’t have expected it.

“It’s like Cheltenham, some years you go with almost 10 favourites, but they might not even win and you might only win with three or four of them.

“I’m always amazed at the confidence people have in us going into the Dublin Racing Festival or Cheltenham and they think it’s automatic, but we load them up here hoping, rather than expecting.”

Galopin Des Champs is unbeaten over fences at Leopardstown
Galopin Des Champs is unbeaten over fences at Leopardstown (Damien Eagers/PA)

Mullins may be playing down his chances, but there would surely be disappointment in County Carlow if he is unable to extend his dominance in the feature Irish Gold Cup, where the hat-trick-seeking Galopin Des Champs is set to again put his impeccable Leopardstown record on the line against stablemate Fact To File.

The young pretender to Galopin Des Champs’ crown may have claimed the scalp of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in the John Durkan, but was firmly put in his place by his elder over course and distance in the Savills Chase, with Mullins feeling he has his ace card ready for another big display.

“I’m delighted with how Galopin Des Champs has come out of the race at Christmas, I think we’re all set for Leopardstown and maybe another showdown with Fact To File,” said Mullins.

“To me, Galopin was awesome, he put in a huge performance at Leopardstown winning the Savills. He just loves Leopardstown and hopefully he can do it one more time.”

Fact To File proved far too keen in that second clash of the Closutton stayers, with connections considering an alternative gameplan as they try to conjure up a way of toppling the Leopardstown specialist.

“Fact To File is good, I think both Mark (Walsh, jockey) and JP (McManus, owner) are keen to take on Galopin Des Champs again and so, all being well, he will,” Mullins added.

“I think we might have to do something different, I’ll leave that to Mark and see what he wants to do. He might have a different tactic up his sleeve, but we won’t discuss that until we’re in the parade ring before the race.”

Such is the wealth of talent at Mullins’ disposal, it is inevitable many of his stars will lock horns, with Tramore winner Embassy Gardens and Grand National hero I Am Maximus just two others from a host of names who could take on the Irish Gold Cup challenge.

Trainer Willie Mullins always thrives at the Dublin Racing Festival
Trainer Willie Mullins always thrives at the Dublin Racing Festival (Damien Eagers/PA)

Star novice chasers Majborough and Ballyburn are other key figures who could be in action at the Foxrock track, with Mullins more than prepared to let his string take each other on during two of the most important days in the Irish jumping calendar.

“I think you have to let them take each other on and the races are there for those horses, they can’t run in other races,” said Mullins.

“We go racing now and if there are seven races, we might have horses that are only qualified to run in three of them.

“So the good horses are sort of barred out from all the races and there’s only a certain amount of races to run in. I think when people invest money in good horses, you have to run them in the good races.”



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Galopin Des Champs stands tall against just five British-trained Gold Cup hopefuls

Hat-trick-chasing Galopin Des Champs heads 19 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, with just a record-low five British contenders for March’s blue riband event.

Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old has been imperious in winning the Gold Cup for the past two years and after routing his rivals at Leopardstown over Christmas, is a short-priced favourite to replicate the great Best Mate and land three straight Gold Cups.

His chief market rival appears to be stablemate Fact To File, who lowered Galopin Des Champs colours in the John Durkan before seeing the tables turned in the Savills Chase.

He is, however, also among the leading contenders for the shorter Ryanair Chase after 34 put their name in the mix for that particular contest on Tuesday morning.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs parading through the village of Leighlinbridge
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs parading through the village of Leighlinbridge (Damien Eagers/PA)

King George one-two Banbridge and Il Est Francais both feature in the Gold Cup entries, while at the same time also holding tickets for both the Ryanair and Champion Chase, with Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe and Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star are other notable names for Cheltenham’s main event.

The five tasked with upholding British pride are Dan Skelton’s returning Festival hero Grey Dawning, Venetia Williams’ pair of Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse, King George fourth The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville) and Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor.

A surprise omission from the Gold Cup entries is Jimmy Mangan’s beaten King George favourite and John Durkan runner-up Spillane’s Tower, who has a sole entry in the Ryanair Chase.

The JP McManus-owned Jonbon heads the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after 26 were entered.

Amongst his potential rivals is a strong Closutton hand featuring two-time winner Energumene, last year’s Arkle champion Gaelic Warrior and the beaten favourite in the race 12 months ago in the shape of El Fabiolo.



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No rush to map out Fact To File plans

Connections of Fact To File are keen to “let the dust settle” before planning the next stop for the Savills Chase runner-up.

The Cheltenham Festival winner had returned in style this season when winning the John Durkan at Punchestown, where he had his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Galopin Des Champs back in third place.

But the tables were comprehensively turned at Leopardstown on Saturday, with Galopin Des Champs coming out on top by seven and a half lengths.

The seven-year-old is owned by JP McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “He ran very well, but he had no real excuses. He might have been a little free and pulled a little bit hard early on, but you can’t take anything away from the winner, he was very good and beat him very well.

“All credit to Galopin Des Champs, it was a super performance, but our fella still ran a good race and when he learns to settle, he will be miles better. However, I do think he has a mountain to climb to get past the winner, I would say.

“We will let the dust settle and see how he comes out of the race (before drawing up future plans). He can go back to Leopardstown for the Irish Gold Cup, but we’ll wait and see what happens.”



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Galopin Des Champs ready to defend formidable Leopardstown record

Paul Townend is welcoming a return to Leopardstown for dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs, as the duo prepare to lock horns with stablemate and John Durkan Memorial conqueror Fact To File in a mouthwatering Savills Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair were split by Jimmy Mangan’s Spillane’s Tower when fighting out a pulsating finish to the Punchestown feature last month, with Fact To File’s victory seeing him join Galopin Des Champs at the head of the betting with most firms for next year’s Gold Cup.

However, they first face a rematch over an extended three miles at a track where Galopin Des Champs is unbeaten in five starts over fences, winning this particular contest in emphatic fashion 12 months ago.

His big-race pilot is relishing taking on Fact To File again in “our playground” and is confident the eight-year-old can step forward from his seasonal reappearance.

“I can’t wait to get back on him,” said Townend.

“I hope he has what it takes to turn the tables on Fact To File. I thought he would step up big time from the John Durkan.

“Who knows, and Fact To File is entitled to step up as well, but Leopardstown is our playground and I think it’s down to him to come and beat us again.”

A return to three miles should hold no fears for Fact To File, who showcased his talent over that distance at the Cheltenham Festival in March and also brings winning course form to the table.

However, despite downing a two-time Gold Cup champion on his return, his owner JP McManus is refusing to anoint him a blue riband winner in waiting just yet, with connections respectful of the challenge that awaits at the Dublin venue.

Fact To File en route to winning the John Durkan
Fact To File en route to winning the John Durkan (Niall Carson/PA)

“I’m nervous, fingers crossed,” said McManus. “He did it well that day (in the John Durkan).”

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry added: “He has come out of the John Durkan very well and Willie is very happy with him, we’re looking forward to seeing him run.

“I thought Galopin Des Champs ran a blinder at Punchestown and it looks like he is better round Leopardstown. He was very impressive there last season and he is going to be a very hard horse to beat.”

Fact To File is one of three in the race sporting the famous green and gold silks, alongside Grand National-winning stablemate I Am Maximus and Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin, a winner at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree in the spring.

Berry added: “We’re looking forward to seeing I Am Maximus back out, he’s in good form and it will be interesting to see how he runs.

I Am Maximus triumphed at Aintree in the spring
I Am Maximus triumphed at Aintree in the spring (Mike Egerton/PA)

“The other horse is a bit ground dependent and we will have to see how the conditions are for him. He likes a good dig in it, but he’s in good form and if it’s OK for him, we hope he could run a nice race.”

Mullins is responsible for five of the nine, with Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner the others on the Closutton teamsheet.

There is also Grade One action in the Savills Hurdle, where King George-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien attempts to extend his joyous festive period with Home By The Lee.

A winner of this race two years ago, he readily accounted for the reopposing Bob Olinger in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan and is primed to go toe-to-toe with Henry de Bromhead’s evergreen star once more.

O’Brien said: “He comes here in good form and has had a good preparation – he’s trained well since Navan. We’re looking forward to getting him out again.

“He’s going off the back of the most enthusiasm he has shown in a race for some while the last day, so we’re excited to go back to Leopardstown where he has performed well in the past – and hopefully he can run a good race.”

The contest also features Hewick switching to hurdles on his first start for temporary trainer Tara Lee Cogan, the mercurial Asterion Forlonge and Emmet Mullins’ 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats.



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2024 Savills Chase Trends

Staged at Leopardstown racecourse, Ireland, the Grade One Savills Chase (formerly the Lexus Chase) is run over a distance of 3m and is often seen as a decent guide ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, run later that season.

Some great names in recent years to land both races are Denman (2007/08) and Best Mate (2003/04), while considering the contest is staged in Ireland, we’ve actually seen eight UK-based horses come over and win the prize in the last 23 years.

While in 2023 we saw the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs romp away with the prize - he's back for more and this year taking on his stablemate Fact To File.

Here at GeeGeez, we take a look back at recent winners and gives you the key trends ahead of the 2024 renewal - Saturday 28th December 2024.

Recent Savills Chase Winners

2023 - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
2022 – CONFLATED
2021 - GALVIN
2020 - A PLUS TARD
2019 – DELTA WORK
2018 - KEMBOY
2017 - ROAD TO RESPECT
2016 – OUTLANDER
2015 – DON POLI
2014 – ROAD TO RICHES
2013 – BOBS WORTH
2012 – TIDAL BAY
2011 – SYNCHRONISED
2010 – PANDORAMA
2009 – WHAT A FRIEND
2008 – EXOTIC DANCER
2007 – DENMAN
2006 – THE LISTENER
2005 – BEEF OR SALMON
2004 – BEEF OR SALMON
2003 – BEST MATE
2002 – BEEF OR SALMON

Savills Chase Betting Trends

22/23 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
22/23 – Had won at least 3 times over fences before
21/23 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
21/23 – Aged 8 or younger
19/23 – Had raced within the last 8 weeks
17/23 – Won by an Irish bred horse
18/23 – Had won over at least 3m (fences) before
15/23 – Placed favourites
13/23 – Aged either 7 or 8 years-old
11/23 – Winning distance – 4 lengths or more
8/23 – Won by a UK-based stable
8/23 – Winning favourites
6/23 – Won last time out
4/23 – Ran at Haydock last time out
3/23 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
3/23 – Ridden by Jack Kennedy (3 of the last 8)
3/22 – Went onto win that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup
Trainers Gordon Elliott (4) and Willie Mullins (3) have won 7 of the last 9 runnings

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Still so much to take for Mullins from return of Galopin Des Champs

Willie Mullins knows he is in a privileged position having both the current dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in his yard and the young pretender to his throne, Fact To File.

Fact To File got one over on his older stablemate when they met for the first time in Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown, but Mullins was delighted with the performance of Galopin Des Champs, particularly as he had suffered a minor setback in the build up to the race.

“We know (we’re privileged to have two Gold Cup contenders), but look at JP (McManus, Fact To File’s owner), he has Spillane’s Tower (Punchestown runner-up) and he’s in everyone’s mind, too – that was a fantastic run,” said Mullins.

“It’s amazing to have two horses like that in the stable, but every morning you wake up wondering if the two of them are feeling OK – after every run, after every work, will they pull a muscle that will put them out of Cheltenham because with these staying horses, if they miss two or three weeks, our rule of thumb is that for every week they miss, they have to go back. So if they miss three weeks, they won’t run for three or four weeks after that. Fingers crossed they all stay sound.

“Fact To File still has to get up there and do it, Galopin Des Champs has done it.”

He went on: “Galopin Des Champs didn’t race until he was four, so a lot of people might say the French horses tail off but he had an easy early life, like an Irish bumper horse. Even though he’s French, he had like an Irish preparation so I think he’s still on top of his game and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles this year.

Galopin Des Champs won a second Gold Cup in March for Paul Townend
Galopin Des Champs won a second Gold Cup in March for Paul Townend (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I probably said it all the other day about his run in the Durkan. I thought he ran a cracker, he did all the donkey work while the rest cruised in behind and had a go at him at the second-last, but he was still there going to the last.

“I thought for his first run it was a hell of a run and I took a lot out of it. We were beaten by two good novices, but it’s easier to challenge when you’ve cruised behind than been up in the van.

“He’d had a corn in a joint so had a little hold up as well. Missing those few weeks were crucial, but I wanted a run before Christmas and took a chance.

“Myself and Paul (Townend) are very happy where we are. Grangeclare West was fitter than Galopin Des Champs and he took it out with him, but he couldn’t finish the race which tells you the pace they were going.

“Over that trip (two and a half miles) it is lovely to get a run into them rather than over a gruelling three miles, it was a lovely place to start all the horses and tell us where they fit in the scheme of things. I think we’ll stick to the plan with him and do what we did last year.”



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