Galopin Des Champs tops Cheltenham Gold Cup
The last time Galopin Des Champs raced at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, the gelding fell at the final fence while holding a 12-length lead in a Grade 1 steeplechase for novices last March. He was the odds-on favorite.
Galopin Des Champs has not made a mistake since, winning three Grade 1 races in Ireland since last April.
The 7-year-old’s improved manners have made him the horse to beat in a return trip to England for Friday’s Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3 5/16 miles, jump racing’s leading weight-for-age race.
As of Wednesday, Galopin Des Champs was the 15-8 favorite in early betting to beat 12 rivals in the $752,500 Gold Cup on the final day of the four-day National Hunt festival at Cheltenham, 100 miles west of London.
Galopin Des Champs, who will be ridden by Paul Townend for the powerful stable of trainer Willie Mullins, can become the fifth consecutive Irish-based horse to win a race that compares well to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in terms of prestige overseas.
Mullins won the race in 2019 and 2020 with the now-retired Al Boum Photo, while Henry de Bromhead has won the last two runnings with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard, who both start Friday.
A repeat win by A Plus Tard would be a credit to de Bromhead.
A Plus Tard, the mount of Rachael Blackmore, has started only once since a 15-length win in the 2022 Gold Cup. The 9-year-old gelding was pulled up three fences from the finish of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in England last November. A Plus Tard has been in steady training since the start of the year, de Bromhead told Irish media earlier this month.
Protektorat, who won the Betfair Chase, and Bravermansgame, winner of the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in December, are rated as England’s best chances.
The race has a rare American influence. Hewick, based in Ireland with trainer Shark Hanlon, will have his first start in the Gold Cup since a win in the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills in New Jersey in October. Hewick, 25-1 for the Gold Cup as of Wednesday, was honored with the Eclipse Award as the outstanding American steeplechaser of 2022 in January.
The Gold Cup is part of a seven-race program that begins at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, or 6:30 a.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
◗ Earlier on the program, the Mullins-trained Blood Destiny will be favored to win his third consecutive start in a field of 15 in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle for 4-year-olds at 2 1/16 miles, one of the most eagerly-anticipated betting races of the week.
◗ Mullins had two winners on Wednesday’s seven-race program at Cheltenham, notably Energumene in the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase at two miles. The $486,200 was the leading race on the second day of the festival.
Ridden by Paul Townend, Energumene ($4 in American pools) was always near the front, took the lead more than two fences from the finish and cruised to a 10-length win over 11-1 Captain Guinness.
Energumene, a 9-year-old gelding, won the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second consecutive year and has won 11 of 14 races in his career.
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