With the weeks ticking down towards the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins boasts his usual dominant position in the ante-post markets. Be it the Bumper, the Grade 1 hurdle contests, or flagship chase events, the Closutton maestro possesses an enviable hand across the board.
That strength is evident in the signature event of the meeting. Having bagged the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the first time in 2019, the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history has claimed four of the past six renewals. He may add to that tally in 2025, with the top two in the Gold Cup market calling his County Carlow operation home.
The Champ and the Young Pretender
Having landed the 2023 and 2024 editions in magnificent style, Galopin Des Champs is the reigning king of the Cheltenham Hill. However, new challengers emerge each year, and in 2025, his biggest rival may come from within his own yard.
A brilliant Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, Fact To File has long been spoken of in glowing terms by his handler and is fancied by many to challenge Galopin Des Champs in the big one in March.
Whilst many trainers prefer to keep their stable stars apart, that is nigh on impossible for Mullins, given the volume of talent at his disposal. Fact To File may only be halfway through his first season in open company but is already limbering up for a third clash with his dual Gold Cup-winning stablemate. Thus far, the score stands at one win apiece.
Round 1: Fact Floors Rivals in John Durkan Memorial Chase
Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs kicked off their 2024/25 campaign in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in November.
An easy winner of the 2022 edition, Galopin Des Champs came up short behind big rival Fastorslow when third in 2023. Impressive as Fastorslow was, the 2m3½f trip appeared too sharp for stamina-laden Galopin Des Champs that day. Ahead of the latest renewal, the market suggested a similar fate may lie in store, with Fastorslow starting as the 6/4f to retain his crown.
In the end, Galopin Des Champs did finish ahead of Fastorslow but was no match for the JP McManus-owned duo of Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower. With Galopin Des Champs struggling to find a change of gear, Fact To File hit the front over the final fence and toughed it out well for a ½l success. That victory was enough to see the new kid on the block dislodge Galopin Des Champs from the head of the Cheltenham Gold Cup market.
Round 2: Galopin Glorious in Savills Chase
It’s easy to suggest with the benefit of hindsight, but the bookmakers were possibly a little hasty in pushing Galopin Des Champs out to around 4/1 following that Punchestown loss. The superstar was never likely to be at his best over that trip and had bounced back from John Durkan defeat to claim the 2024 Gold Cup by 3½l. The 3m½f of the Savills Chase appeared a more useful barometer to measure his Gold Cup credentials.
Ahead of the Leopardstown contest on the 28th of December, the market suggested that Galopin Des Champs would be a different proposition over a more suitable distance. And so it proved. Kicked into the lead by Paul Townend, the 5/6 favourite was back to his brilliant best. Jumping with aplomb throughout, he stamped his class all over the field en route to an easy 7½l success. Fact To File stuck on for second, despite jumping out to the right on occasions, but appeared to lack the stamina reserves of his older stablemate.
Round 3: Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival
The results thus far suggest that Fact To File holds the edge over around 2m4f, but Galopin Des Champs remains supreme at 3m+. However, Fact To File posted his best novice effort over 3m½f in the Brown Advisory, suggesting he may not have been quite at his best in the Savills Chase. As such, all eyes will be on the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown for the third instalment of this titanic tussle.
Unsurprisingly, Galopin Des Champs is a hot favourite as he bids to land the highlight of the Dublin Racing Festival for a third time. Mullins appeared optimistic about his chances when stating:
“He put in two huge performances at Leopardstown last season. He loves it there and can hopefully do it again.”
As for Fact To File, the trainer suggested jockey Mark Walsh may adopt a different approach in an effort to turn the tables.
“Fact To File is in good form, and JP and Mark are keen to take on Galopin Des Champs again. Mark might have a different tactic up his sleeve, but we’ll discuss it in the parade ring before the race.”
Will the champ confirm his superiority, or can Fact To File shake up the Cheltenham Gold Cup market once more? A fascinating clash awaits on Saturday and it should be a cracker.