Galopin Des Champs impresses in Cheltenham Gold Cup
Already a two-time winner at the top level during the current jumps season, Galopin Des Champs was ridden patiently by jockey Paul Townend and finished strongest of all to win the Grade 1, $759,253 Gold Cup, the featured race of the Cheltenham festival.
Going over the final fence, 6-5 Galopin Des Champs and 5-1 second choice Bravemansgame were on even terms. However, the favorite found another gear in the final sprint to the wire. In the end he crossed the wire seven lengths clear of Bravemansgame. It was 6 1/2 lengths back to Conflated, who held for third by 1 1/4 lengths over 2022 English Grand National (G3) winner Noble Yeats.
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— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2023
The Cheltenham Gold Cup covers 3 5/16 miles, and runners jump 22 fences over the course of the race. Galopin Des Champs finished in 6:45.46 over turf rated soft.
Galopin Des Champs was bet down to favoritism in the American wagering pools off of authoritative victories in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (G1) on Dec. 19 and the Irish Gold Cup (G1) on Feb. 4. The only time he has been defeated over fences came last year at Cheltenham, when he fell at the final fence of the Novices' Chase (G1).
The 7-year-old son of Timos is trained by top jumps conditioner Willie Mullins, who won the Gold Cup in both 2019 and 2020 with Al Boum Photo. Townend was in the irons that time as well.
Hewick, the 2022 Eclipse Award winner as champion steeplechaser off his victory in the American Grand National on Oct. 15, was in close range until falling at the second to last fence. He got back up on his feet after falling and walked off the course.
Two previous winners of the Gold Cup lined up Friday for another shot, 2021 winner Minella Indo and 2022 winner A Plus Tard. However, both of these Henry de Bromhead trainees were pulled up.
