Irish Gold Cup Tips: Galopin To Be Leopardstown Champ Again

In what is emerging as the ding dong battle of the season, it is time for round three of a potential five clashes between two of Willie Mullins' great staying chasers on Saturday in the Irish Gold Cup. Billy Grimshaw previews the race for us and can't get away from Galopin...

I was one of the dopes who was convinced by the John Durkan to take on the mighty GALOPIN DES CHAMPS next time out, despite the obvious, and was duly burned for it over Christmas as he bolted in back at his beloved Leopardstown. Obviously a horse who has won two Cheltenham Gold Cups will always be most synonymous with the mecca of jumps racing over at Prestbury Park more than any other track, but make no mistake; Leopardstown is home for Galopin Des Champs and where we see him at his most deadly. 

There is just something about this track that seems to suit the legend and while I still have enormous respect and excitement toward Fact To File both for this season and for the rest of his career, I will not be taking on the champ here again until we see some serious signs of regression. There will be some who rewatch the Savills and still keep the faith with Fact To File here, with the justification probably being he gave Galopin too much rope in front, however listening to connections of both horses it seems clear Fact To File was put in his place last time out and he is the one who will be having to gamble in here to attempt to reverse form. It could pay off of course, but there's also potential it backfires.

I will be going into this race in the curious position of cheering on Galopin Des Champs for both his legend and my bank balance, but also wanting to see Fact To File in the contest until the dying strides. There are many who deduced from the Savills that Fact To File on his best day simply cannot reel in Galopin Des Champs and as such he should go to the Ryanair. This would be a travesty. Even if Fact To File is brushed aside in this race, if he were mine it'd be full steam ahead for the biggest possible prize as Galopin Des Champs is borderline unbeatable here. He's not quite such an insurmountable task at Cheltenham.

I am expecting Mark Walsh to fire Fact To File out and attempt to front run, which could work a treat but is also a huge risk for a horse who has never used these tactics before. It could also set the race up for the favourite, but Willie Mullins has admitted they have to try 'something different' if they are to turn the tables. Hopefully he runs well and heads to the big one on Friday at Cheltenham, but I can't see anything stopping Galopin Des Champs here on Saturday.

Outside of the top two there are some smashing staying chasers in here, with perhaps the most interesting being the Grand National winner I Am Maximus who makes his long awaited return to the track. He is clearly fragile but the talent is not in question and if there is late money for him, I'd expect a big run. He could even be the value in without markets over ownership mate Fact To File if that one is attempting to make all.

Grangeclare West was considered equally as promising as Fact To File last season when a novice chaser but has not progressed at all this campaign and is on a retrieval mission, which also applies to Monty's Star who was beaten in Fact To File's Brown Advisory but ran with credit. His seasonal reappearance was a disappointing one paced defeat and with his yard in rotten form, he's not one I'd fancy here or at Cheltenham. Inothewayurthinkin is another in green and gold in this race but he has not looked remotely impressive so far this season, so I'd prefer I Am Maximus in a match bet unless the market tells a different story and speaks for Gavin Cromwell's Kim Muir winner.