Galopin Des Champs can make history with third consecutive Gold Cup victory at Cheltenham – but could face competition from outsider on the day
- Galopin Des Champs will look to win the Gold Cup for a third time at Cheltenham
- However, there is one surprise name who could challenge the two-time winner
All eyes will be on Galopin Des Champs in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase on the final day of next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old, a two-time winner of the race, is the 1/2 favourite with Paddy Power to secure a historic third consecutive victory.
He claimed the Gold Cup in 2023 by seven lengths and defended his title in 2024, beating Gerri Colombe by three and a half lengths.
This season, he won the Savills Chase in December by seven lengths and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February, reinforcing his credentials.
However, a loss to stablemate Fact To File in the John Durkan in November – the first defeat in over two years – shows he’s not invincible.
And, speaking ahead of the festival, Tony Mullins has suggested that Fact To File is the only runner who can challenge Galopin Des Champs for the title.
Galopin Des Champs will look to win the Gold Cup for a historic third time at Cheltenham
However, Paddy Power’s analysts named one runner who could rival Galopin Des Champs
Speaking on the Ultimate Cheltenham preview night, hosted by Paddy Power, Mullins said: ‘I was always a Fact to File fan. He ran too free in the Durkan but gave an unbelievable display to win. Then, in Leopardstown, he was everywhere in the race!
‘And I still believe he’s running the wrong race and that he should run in the Gold Cup. He’s the only horse who could put anything up to Galopin Des Champs’.
Fact to File is currently listed for both The Ryanair Steeple Chase and The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase – with a decision yet to be made on which he will enter.
Elsewhere on the preview show, Ruby Walsh insisted that the two-time champion will stroll to a historic victory on the final day of Cheltenham.
Walsh said: ‘He doesn’t need good luck to win the race. He just needs average luck because he’s the best horse and he’ll win the race. What you don’t need is bad luck.
‘He’s got a great mentality, a solid jumper, has a turn of foot… try and pick a hole in him!
Johnny Dineen agreed and suggested he cannot see a winner beyond the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old.
He declared: ‘The only way a horse is ever going to beat him, I think, is by being in front of him in a race. No chance of coming from behind him’.
Tony Mullins said Fact To File was the only horse who could could upset the apple cart
A third straight win would place Galopin Des Champs alongside Best Mate and Arkle as the only horses to achieve the feat in the modern era.
Mullins, meanwhile, could claim a fifth Gold Cup in seven years, while jockey Paul Townend chases a record fifth victory in the race.
Meanwhile, Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge has entered the fray as a serious contender at 5/1 after winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day
The eight-year-old has been rested since, with O’Brien targeting the Gold Cup’s 3m 2½f distance.
