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Galopin Des Champs retains Irish Gold Cup while Danny Mullins lands hat-trick

The 2024 Dublin Racing Festival got off to an electric start at Leopardstown

Saturday, 03 February 2024
Galopin Des Champs retains Irish Gold Cup while Danny Mullins lands hat-trick

Paul Townend celebrates with the Irish Gold Cup trophy

Galopin Des Champs defended his Irish Gold Cup crown while Danny Mullins completed a remarkable Grade 1 hat-trick on the opening day of the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival.

Galopin was renewing his rivalry with Fastorslow, who had triumphed on the last two meetings between the two, and gained his revenge with a four-and-a-half length triumph.

He is the first horse to win this race in consecutive years since Carlingford Lough in 2016 and sights will now be set on completing a Gold Cup double-double at Cheltenham next month.

"I was delighted, I couldn't knock him in anyway,” said winning jockey Paul Townend.

“For Gold Cup horses we went a bit of a doddle but when I asked him and gave him a squeeze at a fence he took them on well. 

“I was happy at all stages. We were quickening on my terms coming in for home and it was going to take a fair one to quicken past him. We’ll enjoy this, it’s a big day and he sets the standard.”

Townend was forced to take a back seat in the day’s early exchanges despite Willie Mullins winning the opening three races on the spin.

Mullins’ nephew Danny was in the saddle for all three, with Dancing City landing the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, Kargese prevailing in the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle and Il Etait Temps getting past Found A Fifty in a thrilling finish to the Goffs Irish Arkle.

After the latter, which completed a 534-1 treble, the trainer said: "Danny is just on fire today. This horse is improving, his jumping is improving and he's settling as well. 

“He didn't have much respect for hurdles and has more respect for fences which is bringing about improvement. 

"It just shows you that chasers come in all shapes and sizes as he's not the biggest horse in the world. He's obviously very effective over this trip and we look forward to the Arkle at Cheltenham."

Madara, the sole British-trained entrant of the weekend, made the trip over the Irish Sea more than worthwhile by winning the Ryanair Handicap Chase.

Sophie Leech’s five-year-old was victorious at Cheltenham last time out and continued that form by pulling away from Path D’oroux and Solness up the home straight.

“I have no words, I’m so excited,” she said. “He stays well and it was just great to watch. As long as he comes out of this OK, he’ll go to the Cheltenham Festival.

“It is my first win in Ireland, we’ve had a second at Punchestown before but this first win couldn’t have come at a better place.”

Carl Millar claimed the biggest win of his career to date as 28/1 shot Maxxum landed the Race & Stay at Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle for Gordon Elliott, while Emmet Mullins’ Jeroboam Machin won the Donohue Marquees Future Stars Flat Race.



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