Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:25 €275,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1  |
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Galopin Des Champs returns to Punchestown with unfinished business. The only omission on an otherwise glittering CV, this offers the chance for Willie Mullins’ mighty nine-year-old to add the final flourish to a season already gilded with greatness.
Second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, his bid for a historic hat-trick there was thwarted. But now, back on Irish soil, and back at a festival where he has already landed two of his eleven Grade 1s, Galopin lines up against a classy, compact field of three.
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN BEATS GALOPIN DES CHAMPS IN THE GOLD CUP! 🏆pic.twitter.com/9ue0QV7SpX
— Sporting Life Racing: Cheltenham Festival 2025! (@SportingLife) March 14, 2025
Notably absent is Fastorslow, the horse who ended his dreams both here and at Cheltenham last season—sidelined since December. Inothewayurthinkin, his latest nemesis from the Cotswolds, is also enjoying a well-earned holiday.
And so, it is Spillane’s Tower, runner-up in the John Durkan and a horse who skipped both Cheltenham and Aintree, who now steps forward as the most likely to spoil the script.
]Trainer Jimmy Mangan said: “I was a small bit disappointed that we didn’t get to run in the Bowl (at Aintree). We were in the pre-parade ring and luckily Mark Walsh rode in the race previous and he hopped off and came over to Frank Berry and myself and said, ‘The ground is gone, Jimmy, withdraw the horse’.
“He had travelled over well and everything was 100 per cent and I was expecting a massive, big run out of him.
“It was great to win at the festival last year and he won his beginners’ chase there as well, and a Grade Three after that, so he loves Punchestown.”
Monty’s Star, fourth at Cheltenham and narrowly edged out by Spillane’s Tower in last year’s Dooley Champion Novice, re-engages for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore—herself no stranger to delivering on big occasions.
Completing the quartet is Banbridge, another Grade 1 winner and the King George hero under Paul Townend—who now reunites with Galopin. JJ Slevin, no stranger to drama, takes over for Joseph O’Brien on a horse who got up in the final strides to win last year’s William Hill Champion Chase.
“He knew he’d had a race at Cheltenham,” said assistant trainer Patrick Mullins, “but he’s bounced back and is in great form. No Fastorslow this time, so fingers crossed he can finish on a high. But whatever happens, it’s been a phenomenal season.”
And so, with rivals old and new circling, Galopin Des Champs returns to the Punchestown stage. One last dance. One last chance.
Punchestown Gold Cup
€275,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
4 runners
Going: Yielding
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 1-4U17 Banbridge 9 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin
2 2-3112 Galopin Des Champs 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend
3 22-254 Monty's Star 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
4 211-25 Spillane's Tower 7 11-10 James Joseph Mangan Mark Walsh
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2024 Fastorslow 8 11-10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil J J Slevin 7/2
2023 Fastorslow 7 11-10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil J J Slevin 20/1
2022 Allaho 8 11-10 Cheveley Park Stud W P Mullins Paul Townend 6/5F
2021 Clan Des Obeaux 9 11-12 Mr & Mrs P K Barber, G Mason & Sir A Ferguson Paul Nicholls Sam Twiston-Davies 100/30
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Kemboy 7-11-10 Kemboy/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp Syndicate Willie Mullins R Walsh 13/8F
2018 Bellshill 8-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins DJ Mullins 4/1
2017 Sizing John 7-11-10 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J Harrington R M Power 9/10F
2016 Carlingford Lough 10-11-10 J P McManus John Kiely Barry Geraghty 12/1
2015 Don Cossack 8-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Paul Carberry 5/2
2014 Boston Bob 9-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/2 Fav
2013 Sir Des Champs 7-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Davy Russell 2/1 Fav
2012 China Rock 9-11-10 Michael O’Flynn Mouse Morris Barry Geraghty 20/1
2011 Follow The Plan 8-11-10 Redgap Partnership Oliver McKiernan Tom Doyle 20/1
2010 Planet Of Sound 8-11-10 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs GB Richard Johnson 14/1
2009 Notre Pere 8-11-10 Tilly Conway Jim Dreaper Andrew Lynch 15/8 Fav
2008 Neptune Collonges 7-11-10 John Hales Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 9/10 Fav
2007 Neptune Collonges 6-11-12 John Hales Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 8/1
2006 War Of Attrition 7-11-12 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris Conor O’Dwyer 4/5 Fav
2005 Kicking King 7-11-12 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe Barry Geraghty 8/11 Fav
2004 Beef Or Salmon 8-11-12 Joe Craig Michael Hourigan Timmy Murphy 5/4 Fav
2003 First Gold 10-12-00 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen 7/4 Fav
2002 Florida Pearl 10-12-00 Violet O’Leary Willie Mullins Barry Geraghty 13/8 Fav
*2001 Moscow Express 9-12-00 John Corr Frances Crowley Barry Geraghty 8/11 Fav
2000 Commanche Court 7-11-09 Dermot Desmond Ted Walsh Ruby Walsh 100/30
1999 Imperial Call 10-11-09 Lisselan Farms Ltd Raymond Hurley Ruby Walsh 8/1
1998 Mahler 8-10-12 English Badminton P’ship Nigel Twiston-Davies GB Carl Llewellyn 5/1
1997 Noyan 7-11-01 C H McGhie Richard Fahey GB Norman Williamson 13/2
1996 Billygoat Gruff 7-11-03 Peter Cooper David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 7/1
1995 Butches Boy 6-10-07 Bridget Kennedy Pat Fahy Francis Woods 14/1
1994 Merry Gale 6-12-00 Herb M Stanley Jim Dreaper Kevin O’Brien 5/2
1993 Fissure Seal 7-11-01 Delton Syndicate Harry de Bromhead Graham Bradley 7/1
1992 Second Schedual 7-11-00 Hugh McMahon Arthur Moore Richard Dunwoody 12/1
1991 Local Whisper 7-10-07 Mrs Chris Harrington Arthur Bunyan Tommy Carmody 9/4 Fav
1990 Mixed Blends 8-11-00 J Spearman Mouse Morris Charlie Swan 7/4
1989 Super Furrow 9-11-09 Mrs M Marshall Jerry O’Neill Padge Gill 8/1
1988 Doubtful Venture 12-10-07 E Morrissey Paddy Mullins Conor O’Dwyer 12/1
1987 Bankers Benefit 7-10-13 Brigadier B Fowler John Fowler Anthony Powell 6/4 Fav
1986 Daltmore 8-10-01 N Coburn Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 20/1
1985 Larry’s Latest 8-10-01 Miss A Collen Miss A Collen M Cummins 14/1
1984 Lantern Lodge 7-9-09 Mrs M Farrell Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 7/2 Fav
1983 Pearlstone 7-10-08 William W Brainard Jnr Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 3/1 Fav
1982 Fethard Friend 7-10-09 M Aherne Francis Flood Frank Berry 7/4 Fav
1981 Luska 7-10-01 John Brophy Paddy Mullins T V Finn 100/30
1980 Kilbricken Money 11-9-07 Mrs Charmian Hill
*Run at Fairyhouse
