GALOPIN TO GLORY
Gelding powers home & Mullins says: Watch him win Cheltenham
WILLIE MULLINS backed Galopin Des Champs to stay strong at Cheltenham in March after the sevenyear-old’s runaway triumph in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
Punters made Paul Townend’s mount the 30-100 hotpot to give Mullins a recordextending 12th win in the three-mile Grade 1.
Galopin Des Champs duly justified the market confidence with an eightlength supremacy from stablemate Stattler, with Fury Road three-quarters of a length back in third.
Bookmaker reaction was mixed – Irish layers Boylesports clipped
Galopin Des Champs into 5-4 favourite for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 17, but Paddy Power pushed him out to 13-8.
But Mullins (below) is in bullish mood – particularly when it comes to his horse’s ability to last home over an additional two furlongs and 70 yards in chasing’s blue riband.
“I was really amazed the Press were doubting the fact he had never won over three miles over fences,” said Ireland’s champion trainer.
“He had won over three miles as a novice over hurdles, which is way harder than doing it over fences. To me, he can go four miles.”
Townend, winning the race for the first time, said of his mount: “He’s racing the right way.”
Stattler, victorious in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last spring, was also cut to 6-1 for the Gold Cup. Mullins added: “He ran a cracker. I thought he was going to fade, but he stayed on to be second. He was up there, jumping fantastic, and making the running.”
Mullins’ hegemony in the National Hunt sphere saw him priced at just 10-1 to win all eight Grade 1 contests at the two-day Dublin Racing
Festival. Those backing Mullins for the clean sweep came unstuck in the opening Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff ’ Novice Hurdle.
It was won by the Barry Connell-trained – and owned – Good Land.
Mullins put matters right as Gala Marceau floored the luckless 1-3 jolly Lossiemouth – for a stable 1-2-3 in the Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
The Mullins-saddled 11-8 favourite Appreciate It was pipped for second by Banbridge in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase, but the prize still went to Co Carlow, courtesy of 10-length victor El Fabiolo.