Irish horse Galopin Des Champs has established himself as one of the fastest chasers in horse racing over the last couple of seasons. He will get the chance to prove his class in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival.
With a distance of 3m2½f, the Gold Cup often suits horses that have a lot of stamina. However, Galopin Des Champs’ main attribute is his speed, which has prompted some horse racing fans to predict the Irish star to lap his rivals around the Cheltenham racecourse.
Galopin Des Champs is a superstar! pic.twitter.com/nJKI5Vun7z
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 4, 2023
After success in the Irish Gold Cup on his latest outing, the second-season chaser is now the +138 favorite at https://www.paddypower.com/horse-racing for the Blue Riband event of the meeting. Victory in the race will ensure he joins some of the biggest names in history on the honors’ board.
Trainer Willie Mullins has a strong stable this season, which is why he is the -800 favorite in the Cheltenham Festival top trainer 2023 betting odds. If his star chaser can overcome his rivals in the day four contest at the meeting, it will be his third victory in the Gold Cup.
Connections Will Be Nervous About Final Fence
Galopin Des Champs has suffered just one defeat so far in his career, and that came at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022. Before approaching the finale fence in the Turners Novices’ Chase, he was on course for one of the largest margin victories of the meeting. However, as you can read at https://www.itv.com/racing, he made a mistake at the last obstacle, coming down to hand Bob Olinger the race.
The seven-year-old quickly bounced back from that mistake to prevail at Fairyhouse a month later in a Grade One contest. He also has no issues with his jumping at Punchestown in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.
A return to Cheltenham will have his connections just a little nervous as they will remember the disappointment they experienced in 2022. History has a cruel way of repeating itself at the Cheltenham Festival so his owners will be praying their horse clears the final fence this time.
Defending Champion Standing in Galopin’s Way
If the rising star is to win the most prestigious jumps race in the sport, he will need to overcome the last two winners of the contest. 2021 winner Minella Indo and last year’s impressive champion A Plus Tard are both set to feature for Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead.
A Plus Tard scored by an emphatic 15 lengths last season. However, he was disappointing on his sole appearance in the 2022/23 campaign so far when he was pulled up at Haydock back in November.
.@CobdenHarry celebrates with Bravemansgame @kemptonparkrace @PFNicholls pic.twitter.com/g9vy4zTH6a
— PA Racing (@PAracing) December 26, 2022
Although it is Irish horses who sit at the top end of the betting for the Gold Cup, the home team is represented by King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame. Along with Galopin Des Champs, Paul Nicholls’ chaser was one of the leading novices last season, and his connections will be hoping he continues to improve on the track.
The 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place at 3.30pm on March 17. There are currently 23 entries, but the final declarations will be revealed on March 15.