Galopin Des Champs stamped himself a Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect next season with a Grade 1 success at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday.
On the face of it, the 2-11 favourite enjoyed little more than a lucrative ‘school’ against three opponents that earned connections a €59,000 first prize in the Boylesports Gold Cup.
But on the back of his unlucky final fence spill at Cheltenham, this was a smooth reassurance that a hugely talented novice is learning quickly on the job.
Unlike at Cheltenham, Galopin Des Champs was pinpoint accurate throughout the race until quickening away from Master McShee and Riviere D’etel on the run to the last.
Willie Mullins admitted to a “heart missed a beat” moment when jockey Paul Townend asked for a big leap only for his partner to disagree and put in a short one.
Both men, who completed a Grade 1 double after Brandy Love’s victory earlier on the card, agreed the final fence shuffle indicated both a quick learner and a horse with no lingering doubts on the back of Cheltenham.
Perhaps just as significant, Mullins immediately nominated steeplechasing’s ‘Blue Riband’ as Galopin Des Champs’ big target next year.
“Once he changed gear between the last two it was over bar jumping the last. He just seemed to be on a wrong stride and Paul let the horse decide. He put down lovely and got over it.
“He quickened away after the last and he couldn’t pull him up going around the bend. I reckon he is a Gold Cup horse,” he said.
Townend described it as an “armchair ride” but earlier he had a much tougher task in restraining Brandy Love’s tendency to hang left well enough for her natural ability to win out in the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Novice Hurdle Final.
Along with Mt Leinster in a handicap and Icare Desbois leading a 1-2-3 in the €100,000 sales bumper, as well as Melon winning Sunday’s Cork feature, the Mullins team are in red-hot form going into Monday’s Irish National.
Patrick Mullins opted for Lecky Watson in the bumper but endured a torrid passage in the straight as Jody Townend brought Icare Desbois with a sweeping run down the outside.
There was a sting in the tail for Townend though as she got a four day suspension for careless riding.
There will be a 7.45 precautionary inspection at Cork ahead of the Easter Monday card there.
