‘Finished article’ Galopin Des Champs eyes Gold Cup double
Galopin Des Champs bids to join the Prestbury Park immortals when he defends his Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup crown today.
Willie Mullins' stayer erased any stamina doubts with an ultra-impressive success in the blue riband 12 months ago, staying on strongly up the hill to finish seven lengths ahead of game runner-up Bravemansgame.
Although subsequently defeated by Fastorslow in both the Punchestown Gold Cup and when reappearing in the John Durkan, Galopin Des Champs firmly accounted for his reopposing rival when producing a dominant display in last month's Irish Gold Cup, a victory which supplemented a clinical display at Leopardstown over the Christmas period and sees him head to the Cotswolds in peak condition.
The first time Paul Townend and Galopin Des Champs joined forces at Prestbury Park, the Irishman finished on the deck in the Turners Novices' Chase as the then bold-jumping novice forfeited a 12-length lead when falling at the last. However, the Closutton No 1 was handed plenty of plaudits for the way he nursed the eight-year-old to Gold Cup glory last year and with his mount now the ultimate professional, Townend is relishing the prospect of linking up once again.
"It was disappointing to get beat in the John Durkan but he was very good at Christmas and again at the Dublin Racing Festival," said Townend.
"People had doubts about him [last year] and you always have doubts I suppose when a horse runs in the Gold Cup until they stay, they don't stay. We had confidence in him that he would stay and he did.
"Like us all, he's getting older and wiser and a bit more laidback and he's developed into the finished article. I'm looking forward to getting back on him and it's always exciting. I've had the horse underneath me [a few times] in the Gold Cup and you wouldn't be anywhere without the horses and the rub of the green."
Golden Miller famously won five successive Gold Cups in the 1930s, with Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate recording heralded hat-tricks in the Cheltenham Festival feature. But as a rule, back-to-back champions are a rarity in the modern era, with the great Kauto Star even surrendering his crown in 2008 before regaining the title a year later.
The outlier in the past 20 years is Al Boum Photo and now Galopin Des Champs has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious former stablemate and provide Closutton with their fourth Gold Cup in six years.
Martin Brassil knows all about the might of Galopin Des Champs, but his Fastorslow is the only horse to lower the defending champion's colours in the past two seasons.
The eight-year-old is the general second favourite as he prepares to lock horns with Galopin Des Champs yet again, but his handler believes there is plenty of depth to a competitive Gold Cup. "We're looking forward to the race and it's a really strong renewal of the Gold Cup," said Brassil.
With the Irish raiders dominating the top of the Gold Cup market, L'homme Presse is tasked with leading the British charge. Venetia Williams' nine-year-old has already enjoyed one special day at the Cheltenham Festival when winning the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase in 2022.