Staying the distance
Dinoblue on course to dismiss doubts over her stamina...
GALOPIN Des Champs can gallop into the Gold Cup Hall of Fame today with a second successive victory in National Hunt’s most coveted prize.
For me, Galopin Des Champs is a better horse than Al Boum Photo, who won back-to-back in 2019 and 2020 for Willie Mullins.
And he’ll need to show all his class today as this is a deep Gold Cup, with three of the 12 runners rated 170 or higher — that’s gold standard.
You’ve the reigning Gold Cup champion (Galopin Des Champs), Punchestown Gold Cup winner (Fastorslow) and Grand National winner (Corach Rambler).
You’ve the second from last year, Bravemans game, and three Brown Advisory Chase winners in Monkfish (2021), L’Homme Presse (2022) and The Real Whacker (2023).
For the 100-year anniversary of the great race, this is an aboveaverage Gold Cup.
In hindsight, I think Galopin Des Champs won last year in spite of the ride he got, not because of it. That’s not a criticism of Paul Townend at all, rather they felt he was better being held up.
He was ridden patiently in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown and he got done for speed by Fastorslow.
Since then, the Mullins team have ridden him more positively, and he’s delivered twice at Leopardstown, in the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup.
I’d expect him to be up in the first three; he doesn’t have to be leading, but he won’t be back where he was last year. He jumps better and he’s the strongest stayer in the field.
I think it’s going to be a tactical affair. I question whether Fastorslow will really stay out the trip having been beaten in the Ultima Chase last year over a furlong shorter.
He won well in the John Durkan but that was over two and a half miles.
Gerri Colombe is a strong stayer and I expect he’ll be picking up the pieces at the end.
I thought Gentlemansgame would be a bigger price each-way for Mouse Morris. He’s my shout for a place.
When he beat Bravemansgame at Wetherby it looked like he was only going to get better. He has not raced since and Mouse will have him spot on.
Sadly King George hero Hewick, the fairytale horse for Shark Hanlon, was taken out on account of the ground. Even so I think Ireland will take all of the money, one, two and three, for a sixth successive win to illustrate where the power lies in jump racing.
We’ve the top three in the betting, before you get to Bravemansgame, who was second last year and is a decent horse, in fairness, and L’Homme Presse.
I’ve been asked if Galopin Des Champs wins back-to-back, how would be compare to Al Boum Photo?
He’s a better horse than Al Boum Photo and he’s only an eight-year-old. Could he do a Best Mate and win three in a row? Let’s get today out of the way first.
At least he’s running more than Best Mate. We’re getting to see him more, which is great for racing.
The Triumph Hurdle (1.30) is the traditional curtain-raiser for the final day. As expected, Sir Gino is a non-runner for Nicky Henderson, whose yard is under a cloud — the timing is unfortunate for him.
Willie has all the ammunition here and I’m going to go for Majborough.
He’s the one to take out of the Dublin Racing Festival, third behind Kargese on what was his first run for the yard. He won’t mind the ground. By a son of Deep Impact, he’ll stay.
L’eau Du Sud is well handicapped for the Skeltons in the County Hurdle (2.10). Dan Skelton has won it four times in the last eight years — that is some record — and he’s a master of the handicaps as shown by Langer Dan in the Coral Cup on Wednesday.
His run behind Iberico Lord in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury was eye-catching and he’s been laid out for this test.
Each-way I think Zenta has a great chance for Willie. She’s a Grade One-winning novice hurdler at Aintree and was third in the Triumph Hurdle last year to Lossiemouth.
They tried chasing with her but have reverted and she caught my eye at the Dublin Racing Festival behind Lord Erskine. Willie has won this four times since 2015 with Wicklow Brave, Arctic Fire, Saint Roi and State Man — he can’t be underestimated.
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.50) is not my favourite race, if I’m honest. The obvious one is Reading Tommy Wrong, but I like Gidleigh Park for Harry Fry and Johnny Burke.
He’s unbeaten, he’s from the family of Denman and he doesn’t know how good he is yet.
I don’t think our hunters are a vintage crop so I’ll go for Sine Nomine for Fiona Needham at a price in the Hunters’ Chase (4.10).
In the Mares’ Chase (4.50), Dinoblue for Willie is rock-solid. She was second in the ‘Grand Annual’ last year after banking fences. She’s a Grade One winner at Christmas in Leopardstown and is the class act of the race. There is a question mark if she’ll stay but I think she will.
There is more than a ‘whisper’ for Waterford Whispers in the finale, the Martin Pipe Handicap
“For me, Galopin Des Champs is better than Al Boum Photo” “De Bromhead’s horses have excelled all week”
Hurdle, for Henry de Bromhead whose horses have excelled all week. The form of his win over Answer To Kayf at Fairyhouse in December has worked out and both have a great chance.
Terence O’Brien sent out Articulum to be placed in the Arkle Chase in 2019, and he has a live one here with Answer To Kayf.
As for the final tally of winners, despite yesterday going the way of the home team with five English winners to two for the Irish trainers, I hope we have the upper hand again today. Remember, for years we were the paupers at Cheltenham.