GOLDEN BOY
Galopin Des Champs leads acceptors for showpiece
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is the star attraction among the seven confirmations for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The three-mile contest is the feature on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival and Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old will look to cement his place at the top of the antepost lists for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March following victory in the John Durkan at Punchestown in December.
The master of Closutton is also represented by last year’s National Hunt Chase scorer and recent Tramore runner-up Stattler, 2021 Irish Gold Cup winner Kemboy and Franco De Port.
Gordon Elliott (inset bottom) has won the race twice in the last three years and relies on track-and-trip winner Fury Road, while Grand National hopes The Big Dog (Peter Fahy) and Any Second Now (Ted Walsh) complete the potential runners.
Mullins is responsible for five of the eight possibles in the Goffs Irish
Arkle Novice Chase, where
Dysart Dynamo could be given the opportunity to build on his breathtaking course-and-distance success over the Christmas period.
Other Closutton inmates in the mix include former Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Appreciate It, El Fabiolo, Flame Bearer and
Saint Roi - who was the best part of 10 lengths clear of the reopposing Fil Dor when scooping Grade One honours over track and trip in December.
Visionarian was second on that occasion and is another possible, along with Joseph O’brien’s (inset top) Banbridge.
Vauban won the Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle in 2021 before going on to Triumph Hurdle success and Lossiemouth will be looking to repeat the dose for the same connections as she heads the 15 confirmations for this years running.
Rich Ricci’s filly is one of eight possible runners for Mullins in the Grade One event, with Blood Destiny, Gala Marceau and Gust Of Wind other notable names from Closutton that could line up.
The action kicks off with the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff ” Nov Hurdle where Good Lord heads the antepost market for Barry Connell following his eight-length win here over Christmas.