Nap of the Day: Galopin Des Champs can return to his brilliant best

It was unfortunate to lose Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival card on Saturday but all is far from lost as it has been moved to Monday. That means we are set to be treated to seven top races from Ireland, to go along with the action at Kempton, Southwell and Wolverhampton in Britain.

Leopardstown is obviously the highlight of the day and whilst every race is unmissable, their four Grade 1 contests are the most eye-catching. The Savills Chase participants will clash again in the Irish Gold Cup (15:30) and the Irish Arkle (14:55) features Romeo Coolio.

Monday’s Nap of the Day is set to line up in the Irish Gold Cup and he looks well set for a return to the winners’ enclosure, with the benefit of having a previous run under his belt now.

15:30 Leopardstown Odds

A field of 13 has been declared for the Irish Gold Cup and nine of them lined up in the Savills Chase over course and distance at Christmas, including the first five home. Willie Mullins’ GALOPIN DES CHAMPS could prove very hard to beat now.

Stablemates Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior are also in the line-up, having both run in the King George when last seen. Whilst the latter is the more likely candidate, it would be a surprise if Paul Townend’s mount doesn’t have both covered.

The rapidly improving Affordale Fury came out on top that day but Galopin Des Champs was making his first start of the season, returning after an injury setback earlier on. It’s therefore no surprise that he needed the run and his finishing effort suffered as a result.

He was there or thereabouts for much of the race and it was a very likable reappearance from the 10-year-old. It seems likely that he’ll improve significantly for the run and his rivals won’t be able to lay a glove on him if he returns to his brilliant best.

Mullins’ 175-rated chaser produced an awesome display to win the Punchestown Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival in the spring. He had suffered a shock defeat at Cheltenham before that but bounced back in impressive fashion to score by 22 lengths.

One fact which is difficult to ignore is that he has won this race in each of the last three seasons and has won seven of his eight chase starts at Leopardstown, with his only defeat coming last time but with a very reasonable excuse.

Galopin Des Champs ran to a mark of 180 as recently as 2024 and his level of performance has never dropped too far below that. None of his 12 rivals have reached that kind of level in their careers, making the son of Timos the best horse in the race by quite some way.

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