Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs "can go four miles" says Willie Mullins
![Galopin Des Champs on his way to winning the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup with Paul Townend in the saddle (Image: PA)](/upload/news/2023/02/04/1486.jpg)
Willie Mullins backed Galopin Des Champs to stay strong at Cheltenham in March after the seven-year-old’s runaway triumph in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
Punters made Paul Townend’s mount, whose only defeat over fences came via a last-fence depature with Cheltenham’s Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s National Hunt Festival, the 30-100 hotpot to give Mullins a record-extending 12th win in the three-mile Grade 1.
Galopin Des Champs duly justified the market confidence with an eight-length supremacy from stablemate Stattler, with Fury Road three-quarters of a length back in third.
Bookmaker reaction was mixed – Irish layers Boylesports clipped Galopin Des Champs into 5-4 favourite for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 17, but Paddy Power pushed him out to 13-8.
But Mullins is in bullish mood – particularly when it comes to his horse’s ability to last home over an additional two furlongs and 70 yards in chasing’s blue riband.
![Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve ban qhiddritdiqxkinv](/upload/news/2023/02/01/238_m.jpg)
“I was amazed that the press were doubting the fact that he had never won over three miles over fences,” said Ireland’s champion trainer.
“He had won over three miles as a novice over hurdles, which is way harder than doing it over fences. To me, he can go four miles.”
A headstrong style of racing had threatened to hold Galopin Des Champs’ ascent to the top of the chasing ranks, but Mullins added: “What I love about him now is that he’s settling – he’s not keen and Paul is able to put him asleep.
![Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs "can go four miles" says Willie Mullins](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article29134082.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_JS289992046.jpg)
“He’s matured in his mind and he’s settling into being a proper racehorse.”
The trainer’s view was echoed by his stable jockey, winning the race for the first time, who said: “He’s racing the right way – I loved, when I gave him a flick, what he did from there to the line.”
Stattler, victorious in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last spring, was cut to 6-1 for the Gold Cup and Mullins added: “He ran a cracker – I thought he was going to fade out of it but he stayed on again to be second.
“He was up there, jumping fantastic, and making the running. It was a hard thing to do and then, to stay on again, it was a great run.”
Mullins’ hegemony in the National Hunt sphere saw him priced at just 10-1 to win all eight Grade 1 contests at the two-day Dublin Racing Festival.
Those backing Mullins for the clean sweep came unstuck in the opening Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle, won by the Barry Connell-trained – and owned – Good Land, now bound for Cheltenham’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins soon put matters to right – although not in the manner anticipated by betting ring – as Gala Marceau floored the luckless 1-3 jolly Lossiemouth – for a stable 1-2-3 in the Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
![Cheltenham Festival and Grand National drop dress code in huge horse racing move](/upload/news/2023/02/02/550_m.jpg)
The Mullins-saddled 11-8 favourite Appreciate It was pipped for second by Banbridge in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase, but the prize still went to Co Carlow, courtesy of 10-length scorer El Fabiolo.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus![](/upload/news/2024/06/27/176126_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/27/176124_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/24/176066_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/23/176049_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/30/176181_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/30/176180_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/30/176179_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176178_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176177_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176176_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176175_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176173_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176172_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176171_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176170_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176169_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176168_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176167_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176166_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176165_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176164_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176163_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176162_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176161_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176160_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/29/176159_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/28/176158_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/28/176156_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/28/176154_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/28/176153_m.jpg)