Galopin Des Champs wins 2nd straight Cheltenham Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs won the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second straight year, jumping the final fence brilliantly and drawing off to prevail by 3 1/2 lengths.
Galopin Des Champs was in close range from the outset. Long shot The Real Whacker (35-1) made the early running, while L'homme Presse (14-1) and Galopin Des Champs tracked in closest range.
Fastorslow (8-1), who defeated Galopin Des Champs twice in the autumn, unseated rider J.J. Slevin seven fences out while racing midfield. Though the riderless Fastorslow advanced after the fourth-last fence and boxed in Galopin Des Champs, the favorite continued to move well. He found room after the third last fence, kicked to the lead past the second-last, and showed his class.
Gerri Colombe (6-1), the second choice in both pari-mutuel pools and overseas markets, kept on with interest but was unable to match the winner in the end. 2023 Grand National (G3) winner Corach Rambler (17-1), settled at the rear for much of the race, chased on to take third ahead of a fading L'homme Presse.
Bravemansgame and Jungle Boogie completed the order of finish. Monkfish, Gentlemansgame, Nassalam and The Real Whacker pulled up. Hewick scratched due to unsuitable ground.
Galopin Des Champs stopped the timer in 7:05.14 for 22 fences across three miles, 2 1/2 furlongs over ground rated soft, heavy in places. is an 8-year-old son of Timos out of the Marchand De Sable mare Manon Des Champs. Friday's victory brings his career record to 17: 12-2-1, including nine wins at the top level. He became the ninth horse to win more than one edition of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The win was the fourth for both trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend. They united in 2019 and 2020 with Al Boum Photo, and won with Galopin Des Champs in 2023 as well. The win ties Townend with Pat Taaffe for the most Grand National wins for a jockey. It also puts Mullins just one behind Tom Dreaper for the training record. Dreaper and Taaffe are best known for sending out Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1964, 1965 and 1966.