30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘He's my baby boy' – Galopin Des Champs storms home in Gold Cup as owner Audrey Turley hides in the stands
AUDREY Turley has revealed that she was hiding in the stands as Galopin des Champs romped to victory on DAY 2 of the Punchestown Festival.
The famous horse made it third time luck at the Kildare racecourse to claims the Gold Cup.
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Galopin des Champs owner Audrey Turley after the horses win at the Punchestown Gold Cup
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Paul Townend celebrates with the cup after winning the Punchestown Gold Cup Chase on Galopin Des Champs on day two
The Wille Mullins' trained superstar strolled home to win by 22-lengths in the feature race of the festival.
Mrs Turley hailed the horse and trainer after the win in the Kildare sunshine as she called them superstars before revealing that she's always too nervous to watch the race live when at the racecourse.
Speaking to
She said: "Not really... I got a commentary from everybody around me. I was up hiding in the stands.
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"I took their word, and once he's over the last safely, I can look and it's all good... it's fantastic."
"He's my baby boy, and I absolutely love him."
The French-bred, Irish-trained National Hunt racehorse claimed back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup victories in 2023 and 2024, along with consecutive wins in the Irish Gold Cup in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Before today's success, the eight-year-old began his season with a third run in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, where he finished third behind Fact To File and Spillane's Tower.
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On 2 December 2024, Galopin Des Champs was named Horse of the Year at the Horse Racing Ireland awards.
He beat off strong shortlist that included City of Troy and Kyprios.
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He returned to action later that month and reversed earlier form with Fact To File, landing a second Savills Chase victory on 28 December.
He followed that up with a dominant display to claim a third consecutive Irish Gold Cup on 1 February 2025.
