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    Galopin Des Champs ready to defend Gold Cup crown, Willie Mullins delighted as Cheltenham Festival looms
Galopin Des Champs ready to defend Gold Cup crown, Willie Mullins delighted as Cheltenham Festival looms
Image courtesy of The Irish Field

Galopin Des Champs ready to defend Gold Cup crown, Willie Mullins delighted as Cheltenham Festival looms

Willie Mullins exudes confidence in Galopin Des Champs' ability to defend his crown in the upcoming Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

The eight-year-old gelding, a brilliant victor of the race last season, secured Mullins' third Gold Cup triumph in five years, following the back-to-back wins of Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020. Despite facing defeats towards the end of the previous season and the start of the current campaign, Galopin Des Champs roared back to form with a resounding victory in the Savills Chase during the Christmas period. 

He continued his winning streak by triumphing in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month, avenging his previous loss to Fastorslow. Speaking at his pre-race press conference, Mullins expressed his delight with Galopin Des Champs' post-race recovery and his confidence in the upcoming Gold Cup, which he believes will be of the highest quality. 

Mullins attributed Galopin Des Champs' resurgence to a change in tactics, opting for a more positive approach and potentially riding him closer to the pace. Mullins also hinted at the possibility of stablemate Monkfish joining the Gold Cup field, as well as considering the option of supplementing Capodanno for the prestigious event.

Mullins' novice chase team, spearheaded by Fact To File, has shown immense promise with two faultless victories over fences. Mullins expressed his leaning towards the Brown Advisory for Fact To File, while keeping an eye on other potential contenders in the same ownership. Mullins also discussed the performances of Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps, Facile Vega, Embassy Gardens, Dinoblue, and Allegorie De Vassy, highlighting their potential roles in their respective races at the Cheltenham Festival.

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