'He's making a name for himself - it's exciting' - Mullins delight at Galopin Des Champs

Willie Mullins' day had gone far better than Paul Townend's by the time we got to the Irish Gold Cup but the superlative Galopin Des Champs got them back in sync with a thoroughly proficient display in a race that went very much to script for the relentless Closutton juggernaut.

In becoming the shortest-priced winner in the 36-year history of the Paddy Power-sponsored Grade 1 at odds of 30-100, Galopin Des Champs beat his stablemate and closest market rival Stattler by a decisive eight lengths. It constituted a landmark first Irish Gold Cup for Townend and a 12th for the insatiable Mullins, and he seemed to do everything right.

The horse who epitomised flamboyant exuberance as a novice again settled happily in behind, jumped efficiently and had the tactical speed to pick up when Davy Russell and Fury Road drifted across them at the final fence before knuckling down to pull clear. After a smooth John Durkan Memorial Chase success, it looked another thoroughly polished turn on Galopin Des Champs' first stab at three miles over fences.

At seven years of age, he has the upwardly mobile profile of an embryonic Cheltenham Gold Cup horse. Clearly, though, it lacked a wow factor some were anticipating.

It would even be wrong to say bookmakers were unmoved by the nature of his success. While some firms left him unchanged, others pushed him out in the betting for the sport's marquee chase, with Betfair's Sportsbook easing him to a standout 15-8 from 13-8 before trimming him back to 7-4. It's hard to know what more Galopin Des Champs could have done, and Mullins certainly liked what he saw.

"He's just a real good horse and hopefully he can build on that now," Mullins said of the Audrey Turley-owned winner.

Paul Townend celebrates aboard Galopin Des ChampsCredit: Patrick McCann

"We have had some fabulous horses win the Gold Cup here and this fellow is making a name for himself. It's exciting. A lot of people skip this race to go for Cheltenham but, to me, any day you can win an Irish Gold Cup it needs to be done. We'll enjoy it."

Following Florida Pearl in 1999 and Sir Des Champs in 2013, this is the third time Mullins has won this €250,000 showpiece with a seven-year-old. Both of those went on to be placed in the Cheltenham showpiece and the one thing Mullins isn't concerned about for Galopin Des Champs is the extra couple of furlongs there.

"That has never been an issue for me," he replied when asked about the extra yardage.

"What I love about him now is that he's settling. Paul is able to put him where he wants in a race, and that's crucial for tactics going forward.

"He has matured in his mind and is settling into being the proper racehorse. It's all about getting to Cheltenham now and we have a nice timeframe."

The stable's 2021 winner Kemboy led them under Rachael Blackmore early and Patrick Mullins kept close tabs aboard Stattler. He joined Blackmore on the final circuit and, keen to put an emphasis on stamina, The Big Dog and Fury Road pushed up as they swept out of the back straight. They were four wide and the screw was being turned, so it couldn't have set up any better for the favourite, who escaped Fury Road's wayward lunge at the last before striding clear.

Galopin Des Champs battles with Fury Road after the lastCredit: Alan Crowhurst

After Lossiemouth's luckless run earlier in the day, this was a more positive example of having multiple runners in a big race. Stattler ultimately got tapped for toe but kept on to reclaim second from Fury Road, with Grand National runner-up Any Second Now running a nice race to be fourth.

Mullins hadn't been too impressed with Townend's endeavours on Lossiemouth and Townend wasn't too impressed with his choice of rides in the Arkle. They got back on the same page rather spectacularly here.

"The horses are here, we have them, we have to race them," Mullins said of the scattergun approach that had heretofore confounded Townend.

"The prize-money is good and the track is in excellent order. I haven't seen Leopardstown looking as well as this for four or five years."

Willie Mullins: won three Grade 1s on the first day of the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Townend, who has always shown an aptitude for being able to leave the past behind him, was pleased to atone for those earlier frustrations.

"The beauty of riding for Willie is that what happened with Lossiemouth was forgotten about heading out in the Arkle, and then that didn't go to plan either," he said. "This lad made up for it, and when you're riding for this man you always have a chance of a winner.

"It's a great race to win and I'm probably getting to know him and this way of racing better now compared to what he was like as a novice. He's very professional now and what he did from the last to the line impressed me."

He impressed many others as well, although apparently not the bookmaking fraternity. There's no pleasing some.

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