3 minute read

Galopin Des Champs proved he was still the top dog in the staying chase division with a scintillating performance in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

Following defeats in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April and the John Durkan at the same venue on his reappearance last month. Plenty were doubting the credentials of last year's Gold Cup hero. However, surely even all those with concerns heading into this afternoon's Savills Chase will have to admit they may have been quick to crib the Mullins-trained powerhouse as he produced an extraordinary 23-length demolition of his rivals.

The seven-year-old skipped this Savills Chase en-route to Irish and English Gold Cup glory twelve months ago but Galopin Des Champs would ensure Mullins' name would return to the trophy of this illustrious prize.

Last year's winner Conflated cut out much of the early running in the famous Giggingstown silks, but Townend always looked content with his position, tracking the leader towards the outside with plenty of daylight, allowing his mount to get a good sight at the Leopardstown fences.

Main market rival Gerri Colombe hit his customary flat spot as the pace began the lift on the approach down towards the third from home, but the well-backed Galopin Des Champs was having no such problems with the increase in tempo as Paul Townend breezed past Conflated with the minimum of fuss.

It was all about one horse from that moment on. Conflated unseated his rider at the last, but by that point, Galopin Des Champs had already stretched his advantage to well into the double digits and only needed to be nudged out in order to power away for a breathtaking 23-length victory.

Gerri Colombe [7/4] stayed on to finish second with Capodanno [80/1] back in third but neither were in the same league as the well-backed 6/4 market leader.

Mullins said: "Paul was keen to change tactics today, he wanted to bounce out and let him enjoy himself over the first few fences. I said 'let's do that' because the last twice he was beaten, and things didn't work out.

"I think the horse gave it back to Paul. When I saw him jumping the first the way he did I thought 'right, game on here today'.

"He fiddled a few fences after that, but Paul was very happy at all stages and he showed his absolute stamina in the way he galloped away from the third last, down over the second last and then up over the last.

"He put everything to bed coming around the last bend. I was hugely impressed by him.

"I didn't know what to expect as his work had been a little bit indifferent at home. We tried a few different things with him and obviously, they must have worked.

"We had no winner the first day and people were wondering were things not going to happen for us over Christmas. Things came right on the second day, and it's been really good today as well.

"We had Appreciate It in the race, Capodanno and I Am Maximus, all Gold Cup standard horses and you never know what's going to fire on the day.

"It's like a player going out to play a rugby or hurling match, the ball has to bounce for them. This fella just made the ball bounce for himself today.

"Take him out and you still had a fantastic race, but he looked a class ahead of them.

"He put everything together, he really enjoyed himself, and Paul made the right decision to get him out early, get him up there and let him enjoy himself."

The dazzling success understandably saw a significant shake-up in the Gold Cup ante-post market, with Paddy Power making Galopin Des Champs a 5/4 chance [from 3/1] to retain his crown at Cheltenham in March. Gerri Colombe headed into the Savills Chase as a 10/3 chance for Gold Cup glory but now finds himself out to 10/1 on the back of seemingly being put well in his place.

Galopin Des Champs' recent conqueror Fastorslow, who was withdrawn from the contest this morning due to testing conditions, is next in the betting at 5/1 but he'll surely have to produce something special in order to stop Galopin Des Champs from retaining his crown in March.

The pair could meet in the Irish Gold Cup back at Leopardstown in February, with Mullins adding: "We'll see, he obviously likes this place. The Irish Gold Cup is a great prize and I love having horses good enough to compete in it. We're lucky enough we have him.

"We won't make any decision about that until later on."