Savills Chase: brilliant Galopin Des Champs strikes again

The brilliant took his record to six from six over fences at Leopardstown with a repeat victory in the feature Savills Chase on day three of the Christmas meeting.Beaten by stablemate on his seasonal return in the John Durkan at Punchestown, the two-time Gold Cup hero reversed the form here and looked better the further he went, pulling away from Fact To File in second with further behind in third and plugging on for fourth. 

Galopin Des Champs is now odds-on to secure a third successive Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph in March.

Mullins said: “That was some performance. He put in some fantastic jumps and to win the way he did after giving the other horse a lead the whole way was one of the best performances I have ever seen around here.

“It’s frightening to think he could still be improving and hopefully he hasn’t left his whole season behind him, but what a great day and a great atmosphere with people all around the parade ring.

“He’s done it the hard way and jumped out in front today.”

Of the runner-up, he added: “Fact To File ran a little bit keen. We might change riding instructions for him in future. If he settles he can stay further. He stayed well today, but he’s come up against an exceptional horse.” 

Making his return to action was another Mullins-trained runner in the shape of Randox Grand National hero I Am Maximus. Having made a mistake at the seventh fence, he was pulled up by Jody McGarvey before the fifth-last.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, reported: "I Am Maximus is fine, he just made a little mistake and got a little bit tired so Jody pulled him up, but he was fine, no problems.

"He just made the mistake and got a little outpaced and left on his own and Jody just pulled him up."