Danny Archer takes a closer look at Galopin Des Champs and more ahead of the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the €250,000 feature on a brilliant day one of the Dublin Racing Festival. Enjoy every moment live on Racing TV! The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup is one of the highlights of the Irish racing calendar and one of eight Grade One events during the Dublin Racing Festival.
First run in 1987, some real stars adorn the honours board including four-time winner Florida Pearl (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004) in addition to three-time scorers Beef Or Salmon (2003, 2006, 2007) and Jodami (1993, 1994, 1995).
Three horses have won the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same year – Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996) and Sizing John (2017). Galopin Des Champs is a short price in this year's race and and the current ante-post favourite for the Festival feature in March.
Here's our previwe for this year's race with a guide on each and every runner.
1 ANY SECOND NOW
Trainer: Mark Walsh Odds: 40/1
Any Second Now with Mark Walsh, Laura O
Second and third in the last two runnings of the Grand National, he was a good winner of the Bobbyjo Chase last season and returned to action this term with a really pleasing second over hurdles at Punchestown. Interestingly, this is his first run in a Grade One over fences since the Irish Arkle in 2018. He is clearly an each-way player here but another tilt at National glory is surely the main aim.
2 FRANCO DE PORT
Trainer: Willie Mullins Odds: 50/1
He's posted a string of good efforts in defeat across handicap and Graded company but has not scored since 2020 and looks booked for another supporting role in this event.
3 FURY ROAD
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Odds: 20/1
A Grade One scorer in novice company in 2021, he returned to winning ways at Down Royal in November before filling third in the Savills Chase over course and distance over Christmas. There was no disgrace in that and he is piecing together some good efforts but he looks one more for the places here.
4 GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
Trainer: Willie Mullins Odds: 4/11
(Photo: Healy / focusonracing.com)
A best-priced 13/8 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, he is tough to oppose as he chases a fifth win from six starts over fences.
Forgetting his mishap in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival last season, he has looked imperious and steps up to three miles for the first time over the larger obstacles.
He was a brilliant winner of the John Durkan last time where once again his jumping proved his greatest asset and he is unbeaten in two starts over fences at Leopardstown, a track that plays to his strengths and one where he gets into a perfect jumping rhythm.
The form of that John Durkan win has been franked by Fakir D’oudairies’ win at Thurles and, barring any glaring errors, he can provide Mullins with a 12th win in the contest.
5 KEMBOY
Trainer: Willie Mullins Odds: 14/1
(Photo: Inpho Photography / Leopardstown Racecourse)
He's always a danger at Leopardstown and the likely pace angle in this year's renewal landed this event in 2021. Now an 11-year-old, he lost nothing in defeat behind Conflated last year but struggled to ever land a blow that day and his jumping did lack some fluency. He remains a brilliant stalwart for connections but was only fifth in this last term and looks booked for another supporting role.
6 STATTLER
Trainer: Willie Mullins Odds: 9/2
(Photo: Francesca Altoft / focusonracing.com)
Stattler rates an interesting contender taking on stable companion Galopin Des Champs and I think he is capable of holding his own in this contest.
A winner of his first three starts over fences - including a ready win in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival last season - there were plenty of positives to take away from his neck defeat in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore. He was slow at a couple of fences and also jumped out to his right on occasion but headed Minella Indo before the former Gold Cup winner rallied on the line.
That 2m6f trip was clearly short of his best and he will be seen to better effect over three miles, while I believe his time to shine will be back at Cheltenham over three and a quarter miles in March. Staying is his game and while Stattler can still be expected to serve it up to Galopin Des Champs, do not lose heart if he finds his stable companion too strong on this occasion.
7 THE BIG DOG
Trainer: Peter Fahey Odds: 40/1
The Big Dog and Keith Donoghue after Troytown success (Photo: Healy / focusonracing)
He's enjoyed a brilliant campaign to date with gutsy wins in the Troytown and the Munster National before a creditable third in the Welsh National. He undoubtedly looks a fascinating runner for the
Grand National in April and this looks an interesting bit of placing given his stamina-laden credentials might see him ru into a place. However, his jumping can sometimes be sketchy and he will need to be foot-perfect to get involved in a battle for the minor money.
DANNY'S BIG-RACE VERDICT
It is tough to look past GALOPIN DES CHAMPS. It remains to be seen just what his ceiling could be over fences and the manner of his John Durkan win was deeply impressive. He looks to have few faults, if any. He has the class to be positioned anywhere in the race and his jumping is a huge asset. Stattler is definitely one to note and the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month could see him to best effect, while Any Second Now and The Big Dog provide more intrigue to this €250,000 prize.
1 Galopin Des Champs 2 Stattler 3 Any Second Now.
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