Willie Mullins has been in this privileged position before with Al Boum Photo five seasons back, but there is a different type of confidence around Galopin Des Champs as he arrives at Cheltenham for Friday’s date with Gold Cup destiny.
The remarkable chaser has danced every dance over fences — with his durability one of the many extraordinary qualities that has endeared him to the racing public — and Mullins just hopes“the dream stays alive” for as long as possible.
There is no sign of any slippage and his seasonal reappearance when third in the John Durkan Chase was built upon in spectacular fashion when landing the Savills Chase over Christmas before following up with another scintillating Leopardstown display in the Irish Gold Cup.
Mullins has found a second home in the winner’s enclosure at the Cotswolds having reached the century of Festival winners — the first man to do so — 12 months ago, but a third Gold Cup success for Galopin Des Champs would be “a once-in-a-lifetime job”.
“We’ve more a chance going in here. Al Boum Photo wasn’t favourite, he didn’t inspire as much confidence. Galopin would look a better chance and he is a tremendous horse. He has his own piece of history already but hopefully there’ll be more to come,” Mullins says of his two Gold Cup heroes.
The pantheon of equine legends he is bidding to join as a three-time winner leaves no doubt about his standing with Golden Miller (which went on to bag five successive wins from 1932 to ’36), Cottage Rake (1948-1950), Arkle (1964-’66) and Best Mate (2002-’04) already part of that piece of history.
The welcome he was greeted with in Leopardstown after last month’s dominant success highlighted the lofty place he holds among racing fans, and Cheltenham will explode should Audrey and Greg Turley’s charge oblige for a fourth time at the Festival.
Mullins has always been reluctant to pick the best horse he has trained — with the likes of Faugheen, Florida Pearl, Hurricane Fly and Vautour high up in the conversation — but he did declare that ‘Galopin’, an 11-time Grade One winner, was “the best chaser I’ve trained” after his most recent victory.
Hurricane Fly stands tall as the best hurdler ever in his care, with an astonishing 22 Grade One triumphs as well as a 10-race unbeaten streak around Leopardstown, but there may be a new standard-bearer come 10 past four on Friday.
Should Galopin triumph in his date with blue-riband destiny, no more debate is probably needed about the best Closutton inmate of them all.
It will also take Paul Townend’s mount past Hurricane Fly (£1.9m) in terms of prize money won as the two-time Gold Cup winner currently sits on £1.64m with another £351,000 up for grabs for the winner of the day four showpiece.
Jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins celebrate with the 2024 Gold Cup
It is not a foregone conclusion but former Irish champion jumps jockey Davy Russell, who famously landed the 2014 Gold Cup aboard Lord Windermere, feels it is so close that he can almost taste it.
“He’s exceptional and he’s on the verge,” says Russell. “It’s definitely on the cards, for sure and certain. There’s a lot to contend with and I wouldn’t be too flippant about it, it’s still a Gold Cup and I know how hard it is, but he’s on the verge of it, yeah.”
There are so many traits that set Galopin apart, but Russell marvels at how easy the Timos gelding makes it all look over the larger obstacles, with his jumping a sight to behold.
“I love his simplicity, people undervalue simplicity. It’s the same in every sport, I see all those good hurlers, the good footballers, good runners, swimmers or whatever, it’s just simple and it’s the same with horses,” Russell says.
“It’s the guy that just looks like he’s doing it for a day out. From a human point of view, we’ll say Patrick Horgan or Henry Shefflin or any of them, it might be difficult for them but they make it look easy and Galopin Des Champs is the same over fences.”
Ruby Walsh made no qualms about declaring that Galopin Des Champs is “the best chaser to come out of Ireland” during his lifetime while he reckons the French recruit could be “the legacy horse” to crown the careers of Mullins and Townend, much like the mighty Frankel was for the late Flat trainer Henry Cecil.
There is no foolproof formula when comparing generations — that’s what makes it so debatable — but Russell has no problem making some bold declarations and he reckons Galopin has already surpassed two-time Gold Cup winner Kauto Star in terms of their achievements.
“He’s right up there. I was lucky enough with Best Mate that I was second to him in a Gold Cup (aboard Truckers Tavern in 2003). Kauto Star and Denman are exceptional horses as well but he’s in Best Mate territory, he’s probably better than Kauto Star and them,” Russell says.
Tom Scudamore, another ex-professional jockey, feels the word ‘great’ is thrown around far too often in sporting terms but Galopin is a rare recipient that is worthy of such praise, and, unlike other years, he cannot see any flaws in the red-hot favourite.
“It does seem that simple,” Scudamore said on ITV Racing when asked if the hat-trick would be secured
“Two years ago, we were sitting here before his first Gold Cup with question marks about how keen he is, he’s not keen anymore and he’s just very straightforward.
“This time last year, maybe there were one or two question marks about his deliberate jumping, this season he has been exceptional. He’s been a fantastic racehorse and I think he’s going to go and prove that again.
“He’s scared everybody off but you’ve got to remember that when Arkle turned up for his last Gold Cup, only four horses took him on and that’s the level of what he’s trying to achieve — and I see no reason why he won’t.
“Great is a word that’s bandied around about racehorses and great racehorses turn up every 15 or 20 years.
“There are very good racehorses that produce great performances, the great racehorses continuously do that and Galopin Des Champs is a great racehorse.”
Further greatness awaits but 22 jumps must first be negotiated. Three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards stand between Galopin Des Champs and his date with immortality.
Strap yourself in for one hell of a ride.