Cheltenham festival day four tips: Galopin Des Champs to make Gold Cup history
Having beaten double-figure fields in the last two runnings, Willie Mullins's chaser faces eight opponents this time around, and while the unexpected addition of Inothewayurthinkin, the favourite for next month's Grand National, to the lineup adds some intrigue, he was seven lengths behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown.
Unlike Banbridge, the King George VI Chase winner at Kempton in December, Inothewayurthinkin should improve for this return to further than three miles, but the same is undoubtedly true of the favourite and Galopin Des Champs' place in the pantheon appears to be there for the taking.
Cheltenham 1.20 James Owen's East India Dock has already posted two outstanding performances for a juvenile at this track when successful at both the November and December meetings. Both wins were recorded in notably fast times and a repeat of either performance would probably be enough here, although further progress from this hugely promising four-year-old would be no great surprise either.
Cheltenham 2.00 A fast pace looks certain even with a relatively small field of 16 for the County Hurdle, and that should play to the strengths of Willie Mullins's Kargese as the trainer looks for a sixth win in this race in the last 11 years.
Cheltenham 2.40 Dinoblue looked a little unlucky to come up three-quarters of a length short of the re-opposing Limerick Lace in this race 12 months ago, when she was more patiently ridden than usual attempting the trip for the first time. A reversion to more aggressive tactics could see her turn around the form.
Cheltenham 1.20 East India Dock (nap) 2.00 Kargese (nb) 2.40 Dinoblue 3.20 Wendigo 4.00 Galopin Des Champs 4.40 Angels Dawn 5.20 Kopeck De Mee
Fakenham 1.35 Zafaan 2.14 Taxus Baccata 2.54 Jackpot Cash 3.34 Little Soiree 4.15 Bluegrass 4.55 Go Go Geronimo
Doncaster 1.42 Our Lil 2.22 Reallyntruthfully 3.02 Burrows Hall 3.40 Diamond Dealer 4.25 Baby Chou 5.00 Jaffa Cake
Southwell 4.20 Captain Parma 4.50 Fulford Cross 5.30 Romantic Opera 6.00 King Of York 6.30 Legal Reform 7.00 Feel The Need 7.30 Fivethousandtoone 8.00 Sax Appeal 8.30 Commander Of Life
Wolverhampton 5.10 Hoodie Hoo 5.45 Atlantic Sunset 6.20 Tempus 6.50 Stroxx 7.20 Rogue Tornado 7.50 Mr Trick 8.20 Tuco Salamanca
Cheltenham 3.20 The most unpredictable Grade One at the meeting, with just one winner at a single-figure price in the last 11 years, but it looks like the right spot for Jamie Snowden's Wendigo, the runner-up behind Wednesday's Turners Novice Hurdle winner, The New Lion, in the Challow at Newbury in December.
Cheltenham 4.40 Angels Dawn has a decent record here, having won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir in 2023, and was still travelling well when she fell five out in the same race last season. This looks an easier assignment and she gets a useful 7lb mares' allowance from her 23 rivals.
Cheltenham 5.20 It must have been a thankless task for the handicapper to rate Kopeck De Mee, who was bought by JP McManus after a Listed win in France in May 2024, and he could well take this race apart on his handicap debut.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Willie Mullins enters three potential star horses – including one his wife owns – in race he's won for past six years
WILLIE MULLINS has entered three potential superstar horses - including one his wife owns - in a race he's won for the past six years. The Closutton boss has made the Friday bumper at Tramore his own since 2019, when he claimed it with future Listed winner Getaway Gorgeous. 1 Since then the roll call of honour includes Ruaille Buaille, Coole Og, Space Tourist, Caman Eileen and, most recently, More Coko. Every single one of Mullins' six winners has been sent off odds-on favourite for the 2m½f Flat race. While none of them went onto become household names, the three he has entered for this year's renewal all boast fascinating pedigrees. Certainly good enough to suggest one of them could burst through into his top tier for the upcoming season. Among them is five-year-old mare Katie Can't Count, who is owned by Mullins' wife Jackie. Katie Can't Count is by the former Aidan O'Brien-trained multiple Group 1 winner Order Of St George, who has the Ascot Gold Cup on his CV. Among his best progeny is Grade 2 bumper-winning mare Seo Linn, who won at this year's Aintree Grand National Festival. Mullins has also entered fellow five-year-old La Confiner, a No Risk At All mare who will be making her debut as well for owner Brendan O'Sullivan. La Confiner was bought for around £30,000 at the Goffs Arkle stores sale in June 2023. But arguably the most interesting of the lot is four-year-old gelding Highland Realm. He is by globe-trotting middle-distance superstar Highland Reel and out of Stops A Nation - a half-sister to Mullins' beloved Wicklow Brave. A 'horse of a lifetime', Wicklow Brave won just shy of £1million with 17 wins from 59 races before being fatally injured in the 2019 American Grand National. Stops A Nation, who was also trained by Mullins, won a Tramore bumper on debut in April 2019 and is also a half-sister to the former John Gosden mare Brass Ring, who won four times over staying trips. Mullins will make his final declarations for the race on Wednesday. He is busy readying his massive squad for the 2025-26 National Hunt season - but will go into it without two big names. Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit were recently retired. But it is hoped former Gold Cup king Galopin Des Champs will come back all guns blazing. And jumps fans could be in for an early treat should he start his season in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown once more. Gavin Cromwell revealed his Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin is likely to run there first time out. That means this year's Gold Cup 1-2 could have the first of a few head-to-heads there at the end of November. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Leader Live
Chesterfield righted a few wrongs against Cheltenham – assistant boss Danny Webb
Second-half goals from Lewis Gordon and Dylan Duffy made it two wins from two for the Spireites so far in League Two this season. And Webb was delighted to defeat a team who took four points off Chesterfield in 2024-25. 'It was a really good away performance against a team that we were poor against last year,' he said. 'We had a few wrongs to right and I thought we did that with the way we set up for the win, learning lessons from last year.' Forward Lee Bonis was praised for his workrate and setting the tone for an impressive afternoon's work. 'We played in their half a lot, while not being just a team that were smashing it,' Webb added. 'We were putting it in areas and when you have Lee Bonis running the channels, making some bad balls look good, it put Cheltenham under pressure. 'He carries the baton and continues that good work even when the game is pretty comfortable at 2-0. 'Cheltenham are honest and they throw it at you, so they kept going right to the end, but our boys stood up to the test valiantly. 'Lewis was excellent and Dylan made a great run for the goal, as well as scoring the free-kick, so the lads have done themselves proud and given themselves a confidence boost for Tuesday (a Carabao Cup first-round tie with Mansfield).' After a goalless first half in which the visitors looked the more likely to score, Chesterfield broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart. A low ball in from the right by Duffy was flicked against the far post by Bonis and left-back Gordon was on hand to tap in the rebound, his first professional goal. Paul Cook's side continued to assert control in the second half and doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Duffy stepped up to curl a perfectly placed free-kick into the bottom left corner. Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn had no complaints after the final whistle. 'They're a very, very good team,' he said. 'In the first half, we were fairly solid, but where they raised their levels in the second, we dropped. There was only really going to be one winner. 'You have to give them credit because they don't panic, they're good in possession and their clearances give their strikers something to chase. Ours were just hopeful swipes. 'We knew it was going to be a tough start, but we have to stick together and come through it stronger.'
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Chesterfield righted a few wrongs against Cheltenham – assistant boss Danny Webb
Second-half goals from Lewis Gordon and Dylan Duffy made it two wins from two for the Spireites so far in League Two this season. And Webb was delighted to defeat a team who took four points off Chesterfield in 2024-25. 'It was a really good away performance against a team that we were poor against last year,' he said. 'We had a few wrongs to right and I thought we did that with the way we set up for the win, learning lessons from last year.' Forward Lee Bonis was praised for his workrate and setting the tone for an impressive afternoon's work. 'We played in their half a lot, while not being just a team that were smashing it,' Webb added. 'We were putting it in areas and when you have Lee Bonis running the channels, making some bad balls look good, it put Cheltenham under pressure. 'He carries the baton and continues that good work even when the game is pretty comfortable at 2-0. 'Cheltenham are honest and they throw it at you, so they kept going right to the end, but our boys stood up to the test valiantly. 'Lewis was excellent and Dylan made a great run for the goal, as well as scoring the free-kick, so the lads have done themselves proud and given themselves a confidence boost for Tuesday (a Carabao Cup first-round tie with Mansfield).' After a goalless first half in which the visitors looked the more likely to score, Chesterfield broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart. A low ball in from the right by Duffy was flicked against the far post by Bonis and left-back Gordon was on hand to tap in the rebound, his first professional goal. Paul Cook's side continued to assert control in the second half and doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Duffy stepped up to curl a perfectly placed free-kick into the bottom left corner. Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn had no complaints after the final whistle. 'They're a very, very good team,' he said. 'In the first half, we were fairly solid, but where they raised their levels in the second, we dropped. There was only really going to be one winner. 'You have to give them credit because they don't panic, they're good in possession and their clearances give their strikers something to chase. Ours were just hopeful swipes. 'We knew it was going to be a tough start, but we have to stick together and come through it stronger.'
