Irish Gold Cup glory for Cork's Paul Townend with Galopin Des Champs
THE featured €250,000 Grade One Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup produced a heavyweight clash between old adversaries Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow at Leopardstown on Saturday afternoon with Cork jockey Paul Townend delivering.
Galopin Des Champs had been at his brilliant best in the Savills Chase here at Christmas when he routed a top-class field. Here he made it a perfect five from five over fences at Leopardstown.
The reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner had lost out to Fastorslow in two of their three previous clashes. This time he was again crowned Irish Gold Cup King at the Foxrock venue.
He recorded his 11th career victory and his second consecutive Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup victory at a packed Leopardstown as the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner landed his eighth Grade One victory.
The Lisgoold jockey kept it simple. He made all the running and although briefly pushed along entering the straight he asserted his authority on the run-in.
Ultimately it was hands and heels stuff as he won by four and a half lengths. He is now as short as 8/13 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March with Paddy Powers and top-priced 5/6 to defend his crown.
All eyes were on Lombardstown Jockey Michael O'Sullivan in the Grade One €150K Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase on the exciting Marine Nationale, looking to maintain their unbeaten sequence. Barry Connell's French Navy gelding was already odds-on favourite for the Arkle at Prestbury Park next month after a wide-margin chasing debut victory here at Christmas.
But he never jumped with any fluency and he finished a disappointing fifth. Danny and Willie Mullins combined with Il Etait Temps to complete a remarkable opening race treble.
Found A Fifty set a decent gallop and looked a likely winner jumping the last but Il Etait Temps finished with a rattle to win by a neck earning a 5-1 quote for the Arkle at Cheltenham.
Racing started with the Grade One €150K Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.
Predators Gold second in a Grade One at this track was a well-backed favourite to give Paul Townend an opening race victory. Dancing City carrying the colours of Cork owners Joe and Marie Donnelly arrived travelling well to collar long-time leader Jetara entering the straight.
Danny Mullins took it up approaching the final flight. Predators Gold tried hard but couldn't get by Dancing City who dug deep to win by a length and a quarter. The winner had won a Navan maiden hurdle before Christmas.
He also paid a big compliment to Ballyburn who'd beaten him in a Punchestown bumper last year. Willie Mullins thinks the winner is an Albert Bartlett horse and he’s top-priced 10/1 for that race in Cheltenham.
Mullins recorded an opening race treble also landing the Arkle with Il Etait Temps and the Juvenile hurdle with Kargese who is now 5/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.
