Galopin Des Champs is very difficult to oppose in today’s Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, a race his trainer, Willie Mullins, has won eleven times.
Hot favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and impressive on his seasonal debut in “open”
company in the ‘John Durkan’ at Punchestown, the 175-rated seven-year-old has a minimum of 12lb. in hand over his rivals on official ratings.
And it will come as a major surprise if he fails to give champion-jockey Paul Townend a first Irish Gold Cup success this afternoon.
Lightly-raced since coming from France, re made his hurdles breakthrough for Closutton
when winning the ‘Martin Pipe’, off 142, in 2021 before stepping successfully into Grade 1 company, in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle, over three miles, at Punchestown.
His novice chasing campaign last season yielded two impressive wins at today’s venue, including the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at this meeting before he crashed on landing when well clear of Bob Olinger in the ‘Turners’ at Cheltenham.
“Galopin’ bounced back to win the Boylesports Gold Cup at Fairyhouse and, after a summer break, impressed in the ‘John Durkan’, slamming proven Grade 1 performer Fakir D’oudairies by thirteen lengths.
He settled far better than in the past, jumped soundly, and blitzed his rivals when Townend kicked in the turbo between the last two fences.
A winner over three miles as a hurdler, Galopin Des Champs will have no problem with today’s trip. And, if he jumps and settles as he did at Punchestown, he should land the odds and prove himself a worthy favourite for the ‘blue riband’ at Cheltenham on St.Patrick’s Day.
The favourite’s stable-companions Kemboy, winner of this event in 2021, but winless since, produces his best at Leopardstown and filled the runner-up berth behind Conflated in the ‘Savills’ at Christmas and, on that form, holds Gordon Elliott’s Fury Road (third) and another Mullins hope Franco De Port (fourth).
Now an eleven-year-old, Kemboy looks sure to run his race and might well dictate the pace for Rachael Blackmore.
But, on ratings, another stable-companion Stattler is second to the favourite on ratings.
Patrick Mullins, who partnered him to victory in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, will be on board again today as the unexposed eight-year-olds attempts to build on his seasonal debut at Tramore on New Year’s Day, when he failed by a neck to give 8b. to 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.
With improvement likely, he should figure prominently in a field in which Aintree-bound duo Any Second Now and The Big Dog are likely to struggle.
His price is unattractive. But, barring accidents, Galopin Des Champs should triumph.
Lossiemouth should confirm her position as the season’s leading four-year-old hurdler by landing the Grade 1 Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
The grey filly, winner of her only start in France, has impressed in both starts since joining Willie Mullins and, already a short-priced favourite for the ‘Triumph’ at Cheltenham, should retain her unbeaten record here.
The selection turned over stable-companion and favourite Zarak The Brave in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse on her Irish debut and followed-up with an impressive victory over another Closutton inmate Gala Marceau in a Grade 2 over this course and distance at Christmas.
Rated 140, Lossiemouth won with plenty in hand on both occasions, should confirm form with Gala Marceau and is a confident choice to boost her ‘Triumph’ prospects.
Willie Mullins will saddle no less than five of the eight runners in the ‘Arkle’, all of them exciting novice prospects. And I’ll side with Paul Townend’s mount Appreciate It, who boasts an unbeaten record at Leopardstown (four from four) - two bumpers and two hurdles.
A three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the ‘Ballymore’ at Cheltenham, but seen only once last season, the nine-year-old has done nothing wrong in two starts over fences, making all to record wide-margin wins, at long odds-on, at both Punchestown and Naas.
Potentially even better with a lead, Appreciate It is preferred to stable-companions El Fabiolo and Dysart Diamond and Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, not seen since finishing third in the ‘Drinmore’ at Fairyhouse and suited by today’s better ground.
Peter O'Hehir's betting tips
1.20.Good Land
1.55.Lossiemouth
2.30.Appreciate It (Nap)
3.05.Galopin Des Champs
3.40.Maxxum
4.10.Rebel Gold
4.40.Better Times Ahead
Next Best
1.20.American Mike
1.55.Gala Marceau
2.30.El Fabiolo
3.05.Stattler
3.40.Blue Sari
4.10.A Wave Of The Sea
4.40.Chosen Witness
Double : Appreciate It and Galopin Des Champs.
O’Hehir’s Longshot : Espion Du Chenet (4.10.)
Going : Yielding, Yielding to Soft in places on Hurdle/Bumper track).
Course : Left-hand 1m. 6f. circuit with over 2f. straight.
Trifecta : All races.
Jackpot : 2.30, 3.05, 3.40, 4.10.
Placepot (€15,000 Guarantee) : 1.20, 1.55, 2.30, 3.05, 3.40, 4.10.
Top Trainers (with runners) : W P Mullins 252, G Elliott 70, Mrs J Harrington 60, H de
Bromhead 43, A J Martin 30, J P O’Brien 23, T M Walsh 22, C Byrnes 22, T Mullins 18, P
Nolan 18, M F Morris 12, J E Kiely 11, O McKiernan 8, G P Cromwell 7, E Griffin 5.
Top Jockeys (with rides) : P Townend 83, D N Russell 74, Mr P W Mullins 47, M P Walsh 32, B
J Cooper 27, R Blackmore 17, S W Flanagan 13, D E Mullins 13, Mr J J Codd 11, D F O’Regan
8, J J Slevin 7, Mr D O’Connor 7, P T Enright 5, L P Dempsey 5, D Meyler 5.
Favourites : 39.20% Jumps.
