A Grade One four-timer for the Willie Mullins stable would normally be good news for the punters, but there was a twist to the standard plotline of the County Carlow trainer’s dominance as his nephew, Danny, rode the first three winners at the Dublin Racing Festival at odds of 16-1, 7-2 and 6-1, before Galopin Des Champs, the 1-3 favourite, restored some order to the proceedings with a dominant success in the Irish Gold Cup.
Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was the first – and only – successful clear favourite on the card, and the eight-year-old is now odds-on with most bookies to retain his crown as the sport’s best staying chaser at next month’s Festival.
