Galopin takes on nine rivals in hat-trick hunt

Galopin Des Champs is set to face nine rivals in his bid for a third victory in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Also a dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Willie Mullins’ superstar chaser will be a red-hot favourite to make it a hat-trick in the feature event on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival following another imperious display in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last month.

The nine-year-old will renew rivalry with several horses who finished behind him that day, most notably his stablemate Fact To File, who beat Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown earlier this season but was firmly put in his place over the festive period.

The champion trainer also saddles Embassy Gardens, who impressed at Tramore on New Year’s Day, as well as Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner in his bid for a 14th Irish Gold Cup success.

The biggest threat to the Mullins battalion appears to be Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star, who filled the runner-up spot behind Embassy Gardens at Tramore.

Conflated (Gordon Elliott), Hewick (Tara Lee Cogan) and Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell) complete the field.

The first of four Grade Ones on the card is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle and Mullins is responsible for five of the 12 runners declared, including Final Demand and Supersundae.

Cromwell’s course and distance winner Hello Neighbour is a narrow favourite for the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, while the Mullins-trained Majborough takes on stable companion Ile Atlantique as well as five other opponents in the Goffs Irish Arkle.