Galopin Des Champs returns to Punchestown on Wednesday after a transformative campaign that has left the sport’s best steeplechaser on the brink of a superb Gold Cup ‘Triple Crown’.
Fighting on all fronts leaves little sign Willie Mullins won’t continue to dominate Punchestown festival Fastorslow was subsequently beaten back at Leoaprdstown in February and while Gerri Colombe got closer at Cheltenham there was an authority to Galopin Des Champs that left little room for argument.
With the King George hero Hewick lining up, and the 2023 Grand National hero Corach Rambler making the trip from Scotland after his first-fence Aintree exit this time, it’s a race with plenty of star quality. Ordinarily, a horse with a couple of point to point starts and a single successful bumper appearance wouldn’t be next or near such a contest.