Galopin des Champs retains Gold Cup to make history at Cheltenham Festival and take home £350,000 in prize money

1 month ago

Galopin des Champs claimed a second-consecutive victory at the Gold Cup in a historic race.

This year’s Gold Cup was the 100th of its kind at Cheltenham Festival and it did not disappoint as Galopin des Champs swept home to claim just over £350,000 in prize money in the process.

Galopin Des Champs landed victory at the Gold Cup

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It takes the horse’s total prize money earnings to over £1.35million with the 10/11 favourite bagging the Gold Cup for a second year in a row.

The eight-year-old had looked in control throughout the race, sitting in third until the final two fences when he ramped it up.

With the final few lengths to go, the gelding bolted to victory ahead of second-placed Gerri Colombe and Corach Rambler in third.

“Unbelievable. We had to go through his reserves,” winning jockey Paul Townsend said.

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“I rode him completely different to last year and he was so brave for me. I was afraid we didn’t have enough but it’s the Gold Cup so we had to go for it.

“What makes him a champion? His heart probably. We had to go through reserves which only special horses have.”

Trainer Willie Mullins was full of praise as well, calling his horse a superstar, saying:

“I think he just put himself into the superstar category, to do what he did and the way he did it with the loose horse.

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Galopin Des Champs won the 2024 Gold CupCredit: Getty

Galopin des Champs has won two Gold Cups in a rowCredit: AFP

“We will come back and try to win it for a third time. He has the ability to do it.

“He gave us no concern really, it was the loose horse which was the one concern.

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“He hit one fence early, third or fourth, but after that it was very easy. Paul got him into position and he was travelling easily.”

The Gold Cup is the flagship event at Cheltenham, which has already seen plenty of drama this year.

Manchester United legend and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson claim two winners in a row while another Premier League coach in Harry Redknapp also saw his horse bag victory.

Galopin des Champs represents yet more glory for legendary trainer Mullins, who landed his 100th win this week and where talkSPORT’s Alan Brazil goes, drama follows.

All eyes will no doubt be on next year’s Gold Cup to see if Galopin des Champs can win a hat-trick of events.

The last horse to do so was Best Mate, who won the Gold Cup three times in a row from 2002 to 2004.