Galopin Des Champs became a back-to-back winner of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup when repeating his success of 12 month’s ago for trainer Willie Mullins, jockey Paul Townend and owner Audrey Turley at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon (15 March).
Ridden much more prominently than a year ago, the eight-year-old, who went off as 10/11 favourite, travelled strongly throughout and had a comfortable three and a half lengths to spare over Gerri Colombe at the finish.
Paul said: “Unbelievable. I rode him completely different to last year and he was just so brave for me. We were kind of in between at the last and I was afraid we didn’t have enough to go for it, but it was a Gold Cup and we had to. He has pulled out all the stops again.”
This victory makes Paul the record-equalling winning jockey in the race; his three previous victories came on Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020) and Galopin Des Champs (2023). The only other jockey to win the title four times was the late Pat Taaffe, on Arkle (1964, 1965, 1966) and Fort Leney (1968).
Willie Mullins also won the race for a fourth time after Galopin Des Champ’s success of 2023, plus Al Boum Photo.
Asked what makes Galopin Des Champs a champion, Paul said: “His heart probably. We obviously changed it up a bit this year, but he enjoys doing that now. I got in a good rhythm. It feels different to all the other [Gold Cup wins]. I can’t really believe it – I’m a bit lost for words. He pulled out every stop, and we went for reserves in the last furlong that only the very best have.
“It’s easy when you are riding for Willie. You can go out and do things, change things. It actually went to plan A probably, but if it didn’t, you have free rein to change it up, and that’s the privilege of riding for the great man.”
Mr Mullins said: “He is classy, isn’t he? Paul jumped out and rode a race on him. We were just afraid of the first couple of jumps – the last couple of years he has come here he has ballooned them a little bit and this year Paul said, ‘No, we’ll get him out there, get him racing earlier on, and then settle him in and ride a race’, and that’s what he’s done.
“Now he’s way more mature and settled in his races, and much easier to ride. Paul has full confidence in him – he has more confidence in him than I have, I think, and I can see why – he’s obviously getting that sort of feel from the saddle all along. He gallops, he jumps, he stays – what more do you need?”
Asked whether he will now attempt a third Gold Cup win, Mr Mullins said: “I imagine we have to do that, yes. Good racehorses deserve to run in good races, and we need to see them out at the races, and that’s why I like running them. And if they’re beaten, it’s not the end of the world; they’re still good horses. He’s a horse I’m not afraid to race.
“I just think he put himself in the superstar category, to do what he did in the way that he did it, and that loose horse there; Paul was so positive on him. I think we have to say we’re coming back next year to try to win a third one if we can. He has the ability to do it, he just has to stay sound, I think.
Winning owner Audrey Turley said: “We can’t believe it, it is still a fantastic shock! I know he was favourite, but you never know with racing what is going to happen. To win here on the 100-year anniversary, that is very special. It’s just been fantastic, we are so privileged to be here and just so thrilled to be part of this magnificent team – Willie, Paul, Galopin, obviously, and everyone else involved from Closutton – it’s just fantastic.”
Gordon Elliott, trainer of runner-up Gerri Colombe, said: “He ran a great race and we got a lot closer to the winner this time. The loose horse didn’t help us but it didn’t make the difference between winning and losing. The winner was very, very good.
Jack Kennedy, rider of runner-up Gerri Colombe, said: “It was a great run. I’m delighted with him. We thought he’d get a lot closer to the winner this time and he did.”
Lucinda Russell, trainer of the third-placed Corach Rambler said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. If you’d said to me I’d be third in the Gold Cup I wouldn’t have believed you. On Tuesday we weren’t going to run, but he’s a racehorse and he loves his job.
“At the top of the hill I thought he was a little further back than usual, but as he came down the hill and round that corner I just thought ‘could he do it again’. Maybe if the ground had been a bit better I don’t know. All I know is that I’m delighted with him. To be third in the Gold Cup is fantastic and I can’t get over how much people here appreciate him.
“He’s just lovely. He’s the horse of a lifetime. It’s the perfect Grand National trial and I’m so proud of him.”
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase, run over 3 miles 2.5 furlongs with 22 fences, that is held on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is the most prestigious race at the Festival, which runs from Tuesday-Friday, and a massive highlight of the National Hunt season. The Gold Cup, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024, gets underway at 3.30pm this afternoon (15 March). Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big race, from this year’s runners and riders, and how to watch, to what prize money the winner will be taking home.
Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, is favourite to repeat that success for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend. Fastorslow, who has beaten Galopin Des Champs on two of their past three clashes, is second favourite for trainer Martin Brassil, while Gerri Colombe is third favourite, and a tougher stamina test could suit him today. King George winner Hewick was declared as a non-runner for this race yesterday.
When was the 2024 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The race got underway at 3.30pm on Friday 15 March.
What was the prize money for winning?
The winner of the 2024 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase took home £351,687.50 making it the most valuable jumps race in Britain and Ireland after the Grand National.
Who were the runners in the 2024 race?
Horse: Galopin Des Champs | Jockey: Paul Townend | Owner: Mrs Audrey Turley
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Fastorslow | JJ Slevin | Owner: Sean & Bernadine Mulryan
Martin Brassil
Gerri Colombe | Jack Kennedy | Owner: Robcur
Gordon Elliott
L’Homme Presse | Charlie Deutsch | Owner: DFA Racing (Pink & Edwards)
Venetia Williams
Bravemansgame | Harry Cobden | Owner: Bryan Drew
Paul Nicholls
Gentlemansgame | Darragh O’Keeffe | Owner: Robcur
Mouse Morris
Corach Rambler | Derek Fox | Owner: The Ramblers
Lucinda Russell
Monkfish | Mr Patrick Mullins | Owner: Mrs S Ricci
Willie Mullins
Nassalam | Niall Houlihan | Owner: John & Yvette Stone
Gary Moore
The Real Whacker | Sam Twiston-Davies | Owner: Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price
Patrick Neville
Jungle Boogie | Rachael Blackmore | Owner: Malcolm C Denmark
Henry De Bromhead
What was the betting odds for this year’s runners?
The following odds were correct at the time of publishing and may vary between bookmakers.
Galopin Des Champs: 6/5
Fastorslow: 5/1
Gerri Colombe: 10/1
L’Homme Presse: 14/1
Bravemansgame: 16/1
Gentlemansgame: 16/1
Corach Rambler: 20/1
Monkfish: 25/1
Nassalam: 33/1
The Real Whacker: 40/1
Jungle Boogie: 50/1
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Recent winners
2023: Galopin Des Champs – read race report
2022: A Plus Tard – read race report
2021: Minella Indo – read the race report
2020: Al Boum Photo – read the race report
2019: Al Boum Photo – read the race report
2018: Native River – read the race report
2017: Sizing John – read the race report
2016: Don Cossack – read the race report
2015: Coneygree – read the race report
2014: Lord Windermere – read the race report
2013: Bobs Worth – read the race report
2012: Synchronised – read the race report
2011: Long Run – read the race report
Winning-most trainer, horse, jockey and owner
The all-time leading Cheltenham Gold Cup trainer is Tom Dreaper, who won it a total of five times, thanks to Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964-66) and Fort Leney (1968). The all-time most successful horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is Golden Miller, who won it a total of five times across five consecutive years – 1932 to 1936. The top all-time Cheltenham Gold Cup jockey is Pat Taaffe, who won a total of four times – three times on Arkle (1964-66) and one on Fort Leney (1968). And the leading Cheltenham Gold Cup owner, Dorothy Paget won it seven times – five times with Golden Miller (1932-36), as well as with Roman Hackle (1940) and Mont Tremblant (1952).
Most successful previous winners
Golden Miller: won five consecutive Gold Cups from 1932 to 1936 and in 1934 became the only horse ever to win the Aintree Grand National and the Gold Cup in the same season.
Cottage Rake: won three consecutive Gold Cups from 1948-1950.
Arkle: won three consecutive Gold Cups in 1963-1965.
L’Escargot: won the Gold Cup twice in 1970 and 1971.
Best Mate: won the Gold Cup three times in 2002-2004, the first three-timer since Arkle.
About the Gold Cup trophy
A new Gold Cup is cast every year for the winner of this race each year. The trophy is worth approximately £10,000 and made of 10 ounces of gold. In 2010, a Gold Cup won in 1988 was stolen by thieves from racehorse owner Raymond Mould. Mr Mould won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Charter Party, ridden by Richard Dunwoody and trained by David Nicholson.
The history of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The first horse race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup was a flat race run over three miles during a three-day meeting in 1819 and won by a horse called Spectre. The race was run on a course on Cleeve Hill, which overlooks the current Cheltenham racecourse site. The races on Cleeve Hill became popular over the next decade and then interest diminished as steeplechasing became popular.
On 12 March 1924 the Gold Cup was first run as a chase race at Prestbury Park. The winner was a horse called Splash and he took home prize money of £685.
It was not until some years later that the Cheltenham Festival and the Gold Cup became the prestigious events that they are today.
You might also be interested in:
Galopin Des Champs: everything you need to know about the favourite for a ‘tip-top’ Cheltenham Gold Cup
How to watch Cheltenham Festival on TV: your armchair viewing guide
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