Irish Champion Coach Willie Mullins has gained the final two renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, along with his star chaser Galopin Des Champs prevailing within the Blue Riband occasion within the sport in 2023 and 2024.
Mullins will head to the Cheltenham Pageant with a robust crew as soon as once more, together with with the defending champion, as he bids to finish a hat-trick. Nevertheless, his finest probability of touchdown the week’s high prize seems to be with second-season chaser Truth To File.
Final Season’s Star Novice Shone at Punchestown
The 🟩🟨⬜️ present 📺
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐞 holds off Spillane’s Tower to guide residence a JP McManus one-two in a superb version of the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase.
The brand new children on the block within the staying chase division!@punchestownrace | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/pFqV5lTQyv
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 24, 2024
Truth To File confirmed his class once more on his opening begin of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, profitable the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase. It’s now the 11/4 favorite within the horse racing betting for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup on the again of that efficiency.
Because the race outcomes present, Truth To File beat a robust discipline at Punchestown, together with his stable-mate Galopin Des Champs. Final season’s Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow was additionally within the race however proved no match for Mullins’ chaser.
Truth To File’s subsequent task will probably come at Leopardstown throughout their festive assembly. The Savills Chase is a race Mullins has talked about for his horse. His last run earlier than heading to Cheltenham will probably come within the Irish Gold Cup on the Dublin Racing Pageant.
Galopin Des Champs Chasing Historical past
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS DEFENDS HIS CROWN! 🏆
Again to again @Boodles Gold Cup wins 💯 pic.twitter.com/lVMiGhiVxm
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2024
Just one horse within the final half-century has gained three Cheltenham Gold Cups, so ought to Galopin Des Champs prevail within the race for the third straight yr, he’ll add his identify to the historical past books.
Finest Mate achieved the feat between 2002 and 2004. Since then, Kauto Star and Al Boum Photograph have gained the race twice, however each failed on their hat-trick makes an attempt. Galopin Des Champs will likely be 9 years outdated when he strains up in March, so he nonetheless has time.
The twin Gold Cup winner faces his hardest check this marketing campaign as final season’s main novices face an enormous menace to his dominance. The nine-time chase winner has an official ranking of 177, his lowest since March 2023.
Eire Dominate Gold Cup Entries
Irish horses dominate the entries for this yr’s Gold Cup. Spillane’s Tower will put on the identical silks as Truth To File at Cheltenham and will likely be bidding to order his type with the John Durkan Memorial Chase winner. The six-year-old completed lower than a size behind Mullins’ horse at Punchestown.
James Mangan’s gelding gained two Grade One races final season as a novice. He prevailed within the Willow Heat Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, whereas a month later, he had success on the Punchestown Pageant within the Champion Novice Chase.
The Irish horse will likely be making his first look on the Cheltenham Pageant this season. He’s thought-about probably the most thrilling prospects in Eire and can bid to offer his coach the largest triumph of his profession to this point.
The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place on Friday, March 14th, day 4 of the Cheltenham Pageant.
