Willie Mullins backed Galopin Des Champs to stay strong at Cheltenham in March after the seven-year-old’s runaway triumph in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
Punters made Paul Townend’s mount, whose only defeat over fences came via a last-fence depature with Cheltenham’s Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s National Hunt Festival, the 30-100 hotpot to give Mullins a record-extending 12th win in the three-mile Grade 1.
Galopin Des Champs duly justified the market confidence with an eight-length 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 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 amazed that the press were doubting the fact that 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.”
A headstrong style of racing had threatened to hold Galopin Des Champs’ ascent to the top of the chasing ranks, but Mullins added: “What I love about him now is that he’s settling – he’s not keen and Paul is able to put him asleep.
“He’s matured in his mind and he’s settling into being a proper racehorse.”
The trainer’s view was echoed by his stable jockey, winning the race for the first time, who said: “He’s racing the right way – I loved, when I gave him a flick, what he did from there to the line.”
Stattler, victorious in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last spring, was cut to 6-1 for the Gold Cup and Mullins added: “He ran a cracker – I thought he was going to fade out of it but he stayed on again to be second.
“He was up there, jumping fantastic, and making the running. It was a hard thing to do and then, to stay on again, it was a great run.”
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, won by the Barry Connell-trained – and owned – Good Land, now bound for Cheltenham’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins soon put matters to right – although not in the manner anticipated by betting ring – 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 scorer El Fabiolo.
