English/Ire
“I don’t think Galopin is finished yet!” – Townend retains Galopin Des Champs faith
Paul Townend admits that it will be hard to get off Galopin Des Champs as the County Cork-born rider gears up to try and land a record-breaking fifth Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A dual winner of the Blue Riband event on Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020, Paul Townend was on board Willie Mullins' star chaser when he collected his first Cheltenham Gold Cup prize in 2023 and once again when successfully defending his crown the following year.
The son of Tunis was dethroned by Inothewayurthinkin in the race twelve months ago and despite only finishing third in both the Savills Chase on his reappearance and in the Irish Gold Cup, Paul Townend retains full faith in the fifteen-time winning star.
"He gave me a better feel last time than probably at Christmas," said Townend. "He was more alive and the rustiness from Christmas was probably gone.
"I suppose the last half mile was a little bit disappointing, but as Willie has said, he was afraid that Christmas at three miles at that level had left a little mark on him, but he put his head down and galloped to the line."
Galopin Des Champs was behind both stablemates Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior when third in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival.
With JP McManus' new retained rider Harry Cobden or Mark Walsh seemingly in pole position to ride Fact To File should he be supplemented, Gaelic Warrior could be Townend's port of call if he were to desert Galopin Des Champs.
However, whilst not wanting to rule out the possibility, Townend seems unlikely to jump ship come the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival next March.
He added: "I'd love it for the horse, and I'd never turn away another Gold Cup that's for sure. I thought there was a lot to like and the feel that I got off him the last day at Leopardstown and hopefully he can build on that again and I think he can.
"Nothing's impossible but it would be very hard (to get off Galopin). I don't think Galopin is finished yet. I'm not saying I would get off him but if I got off him and he went by me up the hill I'd be keeping a wide berth of me for the whole week!"
Victory in this year's Gold Cup would see Townend pass the late Pat Taaffe and stand alone as the winning-most rider of the Friday feature and whilst the 36-year-old suggests it's unlikely that he'll manage to peg back Ruby Walsh's record of 59 Cheltenham Festivals winners, he does have his eyes firmly on a fifth Gold Cup.
"I think it's a bit far away," joked Townend when asked about Ruby's record. "We just ride as many as we can there. I don't like setting numbers for Cheltenham or winners for the season or trying to get to targets. I just find that you set yourself up for disappointment.
"The Gold Cup - that's one I have looked at, and I wouldn't mind putting my name at the top of that list!
"I think there's a better chance of riding one of them than however many to catch Ruby. It would be a special thing to do but four is no mean feat either."
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