Galopin Des Champs expected to improve in Irish Gold Cup bid

January 14, 2026

Galopin Des Champs is expected to come forward from his reappearance run ahead of the Irish Gold Cup.

The ten-year-old made a belated return to action in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last month, a race he landed impressively in back-to-back years prior, finishing third behind Affordale Fury and I Am Maximus.

He was due to begin the campaign as normal in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown but missed that assignment, one that usually puts him spot on for Christmas, after meeting a small setback in the autumn.

Speaking to RacingTV at Fairyhouse on Wednesday, Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie, thinks there should be plenty of improvement to follow.

“He came out of the race really well. He probably ran as expected, he hadn’t got a prep run. Was that run much different from his normal John Durkan run? It was probably the same.

“We’re expecting him to come forward a lot. If he can do it at the Dublin Racing Festival, it could be like those days with Hurricane Fly. Hopefully he can regain his crown there.”

Galopin Des Champs’ perfect record over fences at the Dublin venue came to an end, previously seven-from-seven that featured six Grade 1 wins alongside a beginners chase.

🟡🟤 Galopin Des Champs – three Irish Gold Cups at his beloved @LeopardstownRC

🏇 22 runs
🥇 14 wins
🏆🏆🏆 Irish Gold Cup
🏆🏆 Savills Chase
🏆🏆 Cheltenham Gold Cup
🏆 John Durkan Memorial
👑 11 G1 victories
⭐️ Superstar pic.twitter.com/5b0eVnKdsL

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2025

Galopin Des Champs bids to create more history in Irish Gold Cup

If successful at Leopardstown on January 31, Galopin Des Champs will join Florida Pearl as the only four-time winners of the Irish Gold Cup.

Paul Townend could also tie Mark Dwyer, who won on Forgive n’ Forget in 1987 and Jodami in each of 1993, 1994 and 1995, as the most successful rider in the race’s history.

In the colours of Audrey Turley, Galopin Des Champs can push his career earnings over the €2 million barrier with victory.

The son of Timos is a strong 5/4 favourite in the ante-post market and with a run under his belt he should be able to reverse the form with Affordale Fury.

Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin, who downed Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March, doesn’t look anywhere close to the level he showed that day based on his last two runs – trounced a combined 94 lengths this season.

In the aftermath of the Savills, Willie Mullins expressed concern regarding the gruelling nature of his comeback run and said he’s unsure what sort of effect it’ll have on the horse going forward.

Likewise, Ruby Walsh explained: “Has he improved from it? You’re hoping he has, you’d imagine the run, fitness wise etc, he would, but when you start in a Grade 1 three-mile chase, there’s also the worry of what effect it has on you.

“Do you bounce out of it and get over it? You’re hoping he has — the age, he hasn’t got the mileage on the clock, but when you start at the highest level, it can be hard to maintain it.”