Gold Cup Winner 2024
Winner: Galopin Des Champs
Betting Odds: 10/11
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Owner: Mrs Audrey Turley
The 100th anniversary of the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) sponsored by Boodles. However, the 96th annual running. A description of soft going heavy in places and win prize money of £352,729.16. A winning time of 7m 5.14s (slow by 15.14s).
Could Galopin Des Champs makes it two wins from two?
Just over a month earlier (3rd February) he won the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown over a distance of 3m 1/2f on soft ground. In a field of just 4 runners, Galopin Des Champs started 1/3f. He won ‘comfortably’ by 4 1/2-lengths from Fastorslow.
Mullins said: ‘Paul was very happy with Galopin Des Champs. He set his own pace which is hard to do on soft ground. Paul made sure that he was going to go fast enough and try and suck the energy out of the behind, which he did.’
After the race, William Hill offered even money for him to retain his Cheltenham Gold Cup title.
15th March 2024 –
3:30 Cheltenham – Boodles Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
A field of 11 runners. Leading hopes with regard to the betting: Galopin Des Champs 10/11, Gerri Colombe 13/2 & Fastorslow 8/1. The absence of Hewick and Shishkin made for a weakened race.
Nose banded, The Real Whacker (40/1) led from the first until joined at the 12th fence by L’Homme Presse (16/1) who led clearly four out. Galopin Des Champs who had a straightforward passage, and travelled well, just a length behind at the 3f pole and the hard ridden Gerri Colombe in proximity. At the penultimate fence, L’Homme Presse began to tire and Galopin Des Champ pressed on with the chasing Gerri Colombe looking held. Gordon Elliotte’s charge did himself justice with a bold jump at the final fence but was well beaten by Mullins’ eight-year-old by 3 1/2-lengths. Corach Rambler made some headway from two out but tired in the final furlong, some 9 1/2-lengths behind the second.
The testing ground saw a race run 20s slower than 2023.
Four horses pulled up: Monkfish (18/1), Gentlemansgame (25/1), Nassalam (33/1) and The Real Whacker (40/1).
Fastorslow (8/1) unseated his rider at the 16th. The horse completed the race riderless, with the leaders.
Mullins’ said: ‘Since we got beaten in Punchestown in the John Durkan, we’ve been all forward with Galopin Des Champs. Paul was keen he just rode him like a racehorse and I could see the other way wasn’t working last year. He was just too free and less mature; now he’s more mature and settled in his race, and much easier to ride, I think. Paul has full confidence in him. He gallops, he jumps, he stays: what more do you need?’
Galopin Des Champs is only the 8th horse to win more than one Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He went on to finish runner-up in 2025 to Inowhaturthinkin.