Racing

Galopin Des Champs set to join legends by successfully defending Cheltenham Gold Cup

Repeat of his superb Christmas display at Leopardstown likely to make Willie Mullins star difficult to beat

Paul Townend will bid to repeat last year's Gold Cup success on Galopin Des Champs in the big race at Cheltenham. Photograph:
Paul Townend will bid to repeat last year's Gold Cup success on Galopin Des Champs in the big race at Cheltenham. Photograph:
Brian O'Connor
Fri Mar 15 2024 - 05:15

It’s the sport’s most elite company and Galopin Des Champs will be a worthy addition should he successfully defend his Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup crown on Friday.

It is the 100th anniversary Gold Cup and over the years only eight horses have won steeplechasing’s Blue Riband more than once.

Arkle, Best Mate and Cottage Rake were triple winners. L’Escargot, Easter Hero and Al Boum Photo scored back-to-back. Kauto Star is unique in regaining the title, as is Golden Miller for his five-in-a-row between 1932 and 1936.

Since those days, it has become National Hunt racing’s coveted prize with a roll-of-honour full of legendary names such as Desert Orchid and Dawn Run, as well as comparative curios like the 100-1 Norton’s Coin (1990) guaranteed a slot in racing history.

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Winning more than once was beyond respected names such as Denman (2008) and Captain Christy (1974), while others like Night Nurse and Carvill’s Hill came up short of scoring at all.

It’s a daunting context when the 11 starters face the tape at 3.30 on Friday, although an exhilarating one too considering the stakes. Irish runners have an edge in quantity but also the overall initiative in quality terms.

Fastorslow is level 2-2 with Galopin in their own private rivalry, while the Robcour-owned pair Gerri Colombe and Gentlemansgame are legitimate contenders at their best.

The latter represents Mouse Morris, a former Gold Cup winner in 2006 with War Of Attrition, while Gordon Elliott will aim to add to Don Cossack’s 2016 triumph with Gerri Colombe.

A home team without Shishkin is automatically weakened, although it does include last year’s runner-up Bravemansgame, the Grand National winner Corach Rambler, and a potential dark horse in L’Homme Presse.

Nevertheless, it’s a Gold Cup that looks to revolve around the defending champion.

Circumstances conspired against Galopin Des Champs a year ago to such an extent that Paul Townend was forced into one of the all-time great improvisational big-race rides.

Townend’s sangfroid under such pressure was remarkable and, despite some unusually ropy jumping, Willie Mullins’s star eventually came through to win in style by seven lengths.

Gerri Colombe under Davy Russell wins Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree last year. Gordon Elliott will be hoping his charge can emulate Don Cossack’s 2016 Gold Cup triumph. Photograph: David Davies/Jockey Club
Gerri Colombe under Davy Russell wins Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree last year. Gordon Elliott will be hoping his charge can emulate Don Cossack’s 2016 Gold Cup triumph. Photograph: David Davies/Jockey Club

He looked a superb winner on the day, but a school of thought developed suggesting the effort involved might have been behind two subsequent defeats by Fastorslow.

However, any Gold Cup ‘curse’ theory was shot to pieces at Christmas when Galopin put up a Leopardstown performance that left veteran observers struggling for comparison.

Maybe Gerri Colombe wasn’t quite at his best but there were still 23 lengths between them at the line and the Mullins star went through that line as if only getting going.

Fears of a bounce effect from such a massive display didn’t happen back at Leopardstown last month where Fastorslow came up short, albeit while giving the impression half an eye was being kept on the ultimate Gold Cup prize.

Those who argue that gap might be bridged are presuming a similar preparatory eye hasn’t been employed for Galopin Des Champs’ route back to Cheltenham.

One assumption is that any repeat of his awesome display in the Savills Chase will make Galopin Des Champs all but impossible to beat.

Having had stamina doubts swirling around his head a year ago, there are now doubts about him needing soft ground to blunt some of his rival’s supposed speed advantage. All of it looks like an exercise in grasping at straws if the Mullins star bring his A-game back to the scene of his most famous triumph.

Ruby Walsh has said he believes Galopin Des Champs could be the best we’ve seen since Kauto Star. Based on last year’s display, and particularly that Leopardstown rout, it’s hard to argue with him.

The Mullins team is also represented by the talented but fragile Monkfish who looked all over a future Gold Cup winner during a stellar novice career three years ago.

There have been just three starts since then, all over hurdles, and there could hardly be a deeper end for Monkfish to jump into over fences.

If his career is a reminder of the demands required to compete, never mind win, at the very top level over fences, then Galopin Des Champs looks set to underline how glorious the end result can be.

Brian O’Connor’s Cheltenham tips – Day 4

1.30: Bunting; 2.10: Absurde; 2.50: Lecky Watson; 3.30: Galopin Des Champs (Nap); 4.10: Its On The Line; 4.50: Allegorie de Vassy; 5.30: Waterford Whispers

Nap and Double: Galopin Des Champs & Waterford Whispers

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column