Galopin Des Champs dazzles with third Paddy Energy Irish Gold Cup win at Leopardstown
🟡🟤 Galopin Des Champs – three Irish Gold Cups at his beloved @LeopardstownRC
🏇 22 runs 🥇 14 wins🏆🏆🏆 Irish Gold Cup 🏆🏆 Savills Chase🏆🏆 Cheltenham Gold Cup 🏆 John Durkan Memorial👑 11 G1 victories⭐️ Celebrity pic.twitter.com/5b0eVnKdsL
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2025
A hero’s welcome greeted Galopin Des Champs as the group at Leopardstown belted out “Olé! Olé! Olé! Olé!” in celebration of the nine-year-old’s scintillating third consecutive victory within the Grade 1 Paddy Energy Irish Gold Cup on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Competition. The son of Timos, educated by Willie Mullins, cemented his place in historical past with a efficiency befitting his standing as a twin Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
For Mullins, it marked a exceptional 14th success on this prestigious contest, however few may argue that Galopin Des Champs belongs to a tier above former legends like Jodami, Florida Pearl, and Beef Or Salmon. Together with his customary dominance, the nine-year-old dictated the race at his personal tempo, making it look nearly easy whereas by no means a lot as brushing a twig.
Turning for residence, stablemates Embassy Gardens, Grangeclare West, and Truth Or File briefly threatened, as did Monty’s Star, however Paul Townend’s mount was in full management. Booted into the ultimate fence, Galopin Des Champs accelerated easily down the stretch, bounding away to win by 4 and three-quarter lengths from the unconsidered Grangeclare West, with Truth Or File in third.
The capability crowd, ten-deep across the parade ring, knew they’d witnessed one thing particular, responding with an eagerness hardly ever seen in racing. Townend, revelling within the second, soaked within the environment.
“It’s a really particular reception,” the champion jockey mentioned. “We don’t expertise it typically in racing. It’s the closest we get to scoring a purpose someplace vital and working to the group.
“The general public getting behind him provides strain, but it surely’s the type you take pleasure in. After we jumped the final ditch, I may hear the roar from the stands. He’s a champion. You might exit on him in a head collar—he’s that good. I’m fortunate to have him, and so are the house owners, who by no means take it as a right. Seeing the general public behind him is good.”
The day wasn’t performed for Mullins. Majborough (8/11f) showcased his potential within the Grade 1 Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase, overcoming early leaping errors to cruise to a nine-length victory over Contact Me Not. Mark Walsh, aboard JP McManus’s thrilling five-year-old, managed the tempo from the entrance and barely needed to ask for a significant effort as Majborough eased clear over the closing levels.
“He’s a monster, isn’t he?” Walsh mentioned. “The scale of him. He does every thing so simply. I knew we had been going gallop, however he felt like he was hacking. His cruising velocity is phenomenal. He made just a few errors as a result of we had been happening a stride, but it surely’s solely his second run over fences. He’ll study. He wasn’t drained on the end and galloped all the best way to the road.”
Majborough’s success was a part of a double on the day for Walsh and McManus, following Percival Legallois’s win within the Race And Keep At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle.
Mullins, ending the day with three Grade 1 wins, mirrored on the depth of expertise at his disposal. “From the stands, I may hear the group reacting to Majborough’s jumps—oohing and aahing with each shut name. However watching from the facet, he by no means regarded in peril. He’s a standout of his era, and we’ve got loads of thrilling horses coming via, like Closing Demand, who received the opening Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Companions Novice Hurdle.
“They’re good horses to have,” Mullins added with a smile. For the champion coach, days like these have gotten routine, however for the followers at Leopardstown, this was one thing to savour.
🗣️ “That is the very best chaser I’ve educated and Hurricane Fly the very best hurdler.”
Willie Mullins on one other demolition job within the Irish Gold Cup from Galopin Des Champs 👇🏻
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2025
