Galopin Des Champs gets the better of City Of Troy to be crowned Ireland's horse of the year

Galopin Des Champs was named horse of the year at the Horse Racing Ireland awards at the Mansion House, Dublin on Monday night, fighting off a strong field that included City Of Troy, Kyprios and State Man.

Al Boum Photo, Willie Mullins' previous dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, never won the award but Galopin Des Champs' second success in jump racing's most prestigious prize, combined with his victory in the Irish Gold Cup and stunning Savills Chase success, saw him get the nod on what was a successful night for the champion trainer.

Mullins won the national hunt award after becoming the first Irish-based trainer to land the British jumps trainers' title in 70 years. He was also champion in his home country for the 18th time and sent out nine winners at the Cheltenham Festival, which brought his overall tally at the meeting to 103. I Am Maximus's Grand National victory was another highlight for the Closutton team.

It was another Derby-winning season for Aidan O'Brien thanks to City Of Troy and the all-conquering Ballydoyle trainer won the Flat award. In 2024 he was crowned Ireland's champion trainer for a 27th time and won the British prize for a seventh time.

Champion jockey Colin Keane was edged out by O'Brien for that award, but there was still a special family success as his father Gerry won the Flat achievement award for the exploits of Crystal Black, who won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot in the colours of the Wear A Pink Ribbon syndicate.

A dozen years after winning his first Irish Grand National with Lion Na Bearnai, Tom Gibney repeated the feat with Intense Raffles in 2024, and that saw him clinch the national hunt achievement award. He was ridden to victory at Fairyhouse by JJ Slevin, who picked up the ride of the year for his steer on Nurburgring in the Galway Hurdle. That award was also chosen by the public with an online poll of more than 4,200 votes.

It has been a cracking couple of weeks for James Ryan, who was crowned champion apprentice for the first time after a thrilling battle that went down to the wire, and his 33-winner haul also helped him to claim the emerging talent award.

County Fermanagh-based David Christie was the winner of the point-to-point award, while Fairyhouse was the racecourse of the year, which was chosen by a public vote, votes from each of the 26 racecourses, and a committee with a focus on sustainability.

Almost 10,000 racegoers and racing fans voted in the online poll and their contribution equated to 50 per cent of the total votes, with 25 per cent allotted to both racecourses and the committee who judged each racecourse on its sustainability awareness.

The recipient of the contribution to the industry award was His Highness the Aga Khan, and HRI chairman Nicky Hartery said the owner of legends such as Shergar, Shahrastani and Sinndar had played a massive role in Irish racing over the last century.

Hartery said: "With these awards, we celebrate something more profound than achievements and investments. His Highness the Aga Khan is not just a valued partner of the Irish racing community; he is one of us. We feel that he is part of the very fabric of our industry, and we have claimed him as one of our own.

"We are forever grateful for all His Highness has done for Irish horseracing. His vision, dedication, and generosity has enriched our sport and strengthened our community in ways that will endure for generations."

The winners at the 22nd Horse Racing Ireland awards

Horse of the Year Galopin Des Champs
Emerging talent James Ryan
National hunt Willie Mullins
National hunt achievement Tom Gibney
Point-to-point David Christie
Flat Aidan O'Brien
Flat achievement Gerry Keane
Racecourse of the year Fairyhouse
Ride of the year JJ Slevin
Contribution to the industry His Highness the Aga Khan

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