Galopin Des Champs: A Legendary Triumph in Irish Gold Cup History

Galopin Des Champs has etched his name in the annals of horse racing history by claiming an exhilarating victory in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, marking his remarkable third consecutive win in this prestigious event.

The 1-2 favorite, expertly ridden by the talented Paul Townend, cruised through the competition, swiftly overcoming the challenge posed by Fact To File, who finished in third, while Grangeclare West clinched the second spot. The atmosphere erupted into jubilant chants of 'Ole, Ole, Ole' from the elated crowd, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of the equine champion.

"It was a surreal experience for me; as we approached the final jump, the roar from the stands was electric," Townend expressed, highlighting the unparalleled energy of the event.

Trainer Willie Mullins praised Galopin Des Champs, stating, "He jumped flawlessly and galloped for three miles, showing no signs of faltering as we approached the winning post. He truly is a champion. Without a doubt, he is the best chaser I've ever trained, rivaled only by Hurricane Fly in the hurdle category."

With this victory, Galopin Des Champs now stands as the 4-6 favourite to secure a third consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph in March, joining the elite company of Jodami and Beef Or Salmon as a triple winner of the Irish Gold Cup. He is now just one win away from the record of four victories held by the legendary Florida Pearl, who also trained under Mullins.

This win at the Dublin Racing Festival was Galopin Des Champs' 11th career success over fences and his seventh victory at Leopardstown. Last year's Triumph Hurdle champion Majborough added to Mullins' success by winning the Irish Arkle, setting up an exciting showdown with Sir Gino, trained by Nicky Henderson, at the upcoming Cheltenham event.

Additionally, trainer Gavin Cromwell enjoyed a fruitful day as well, celebrating a double victory with juvenile hurdler Hello Neighbour and Perceval Legallois, who significantly improved his odds from 33-1 to 20-1 for the impending Grand National at Aintree in April.