Frankie Foster Impressed With Galopin Des Champs Ahead Of Cheltenham Festival
Betfred TV regular Frankie Foster thinks things are looking good for Galopin Des Champs ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a stunning performance to win the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding impressed in his first three-mile race at the Dublin Racing Festival to shorten his odds to 13/8 for the Gold Cup at the Festival.
Galopin Des Champs showed his class after clearing the final fence to power through and beat Fury Road, ridden by Davy Russell, and stablemate Stattler. Jockey Paul Townend was able to find another gear from Mullins’ star in the final stretch to finish eight lengths clear to win the race.
For a debut three-mile race with an eight-length victory, Galopin Des Champs demonstrated his credentials to storm to victory in the festival showpiece next month, and Foster was extremely happy with what he saw.
Appearing on the latest episode of Road to Cheltenham, Foster said: “I cannot understand how you can’t be happy with that. It’s a three-mile chase against top class horses at the Dublin Racing Festival.
“Davy’s [Russell] had a crack over the last, he’s [Galopin Des Champs] gone with that horse then easy enough, then Paul’s [Townend] asked for more of him and he’s gone eight clear.
“Stattler, who everyone has been talking up has finished up in second, we know that Davy had his chance over the last and then was beaten, and he’s [Galopin Des Champs] won easily - eight lengths.
“How flashy can you be after three miles? He jumped well, he travelled well. Davy took him on but he brushed him aside. He went eight clear after just being asked if there was another gear there.”
Many racegoers were just as convinced of Galopin Des Champs’ run across the Irish Sea ahead of the Cheltenham Festival and the 2023 Gold Cup is shaping up to be an enthralling competition with the likes of Stattler, reigning champion A Plus Tard, Grand National winner Noble Yeats and Protektorat all thrown into the mix.
