Cheltenham Festival Friday report as Willie Mullins capped a brilliant Cheltenham with Gold Cup success

If Denman was relentless and remorseless in 2008, what’s Willie Mullins in 2024?

Yes, there have been bumps in the road, El Fabiolo’s early departure in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase a notable one this week, but on Friday he strengthened his grip on the Festival as Galopin Des Champs’ won a second Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

By the time he put the saddle on the powerful eight-year-old he’d already bagged a double on the card courtesy of Majborough in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and Absurde, who completes a stats-busting Sky Bet Ebor/County Hurdle double under a Paul Townend ride of the ages.

It was more straightforward on Galopin – but not entirely. He was big at the first and landed a little steep and you sensed while things were always under control, it was never exactly plain sailing.

Fastorslow had always threatened to be a danger to the favourite and even without a jockey he proved that.

Having unshipped JJ Slevin, he continued riderless and turning for home, as the freewheeling L’Homme Presse set sail for the final climb to the line, he was on the inside of Galopin Des Champs.

It wasn’t exactly time to pray for Townend but there will have been relief, and plenty of it, as the self-steering rival stayed true and straight.

And so did the winner as he set sights on what was in front of him, firstly the leader who was devoured by the time they met the last, then the hill.

Gerri Colombe was the hound to the hare and a persistent one at that. Galopin wasn’t able to put clear blue sky between the two but was able to maintain a comfortable distance, it was three-and-a-half lengths, all the way to the winning post.

He’s the first back-to-back winner since a former stablemate in Al Boum Photo. He has a bigger following than that once neighbour enjoyed – and more star power too.

The campaigning helps, no cotton wool. Galopin Des Champs has danced every dance, the John Durkan, Savills Chase, Irish Gold Cup and then the blue riband itself.

Three Grade One wins on the bounce, three Timeform winning performance ratings in the 170s. You can set your clock by him.

He might not have improved on last year’s winning number, in fact it looks like he was a pound or three below it, but you sense there’s one calculator-melting day somewhere in him.

As an animated Townend brought him back down the chute in front of the stands he took congratulations from all sides. Daryl Jacob and Bryan Cooper made the point of offering an outstretched hand, beaming smiles all round.

“Better than Kauto” roared one racegoer. Townend smiled again. Not yet he’s not – but he looks the best since.

To run to the sort of huge numbers needed to get to that elevated company you need competition like the Nicholls behemoth had.

Maybe next year the biggest threat is actually housed across from him at Closutton in Fact To File, silky smooth in this year’s Brown Advisory.

Right now, he’s the pretender to the throne. Galopin Des Champs has the seat. And Mullins doesn’t feel he’s for moving.

“I think he just put himself in the superstar category – to do what he did and the way he did it,” he grinned.

“The loose horse was there, and Paul was just so positive on him. Hopefully we can come back next year to win a third one – he has the ability to do it and we just have to stay sound, I think.”

But that’s the skill, the challenge.

This year more than ever has shown the tightrope they walk with these high-class operators.

Missing from the 2024 Festival after setbacks were Constitution Hill, Allaho, Energumene, Marine Nationale and rising French staying star Theleme.

And then Nicky Henderson’s woes deepened as the infection that forced his Champion Hurdle hero onto the sidelines, spread and virtually closed his Seven Barrows stable for the biggest week of his year.

Jonbon, Shishkin and Sir Gino joined those watching on from over their stable doors.

Mullins offered his rival a consoling arm and word of comfort on Wednesday and admitted such a setback is the greatest fear of any trainer Cheltenham week, whatever their firepower. Things from beyond their control stealing in and shattering plans and dreams.

Numerically there’s never been domination of the jumping game – and by extension – Cheltenham like this.

Day two saw Mullins surge past the 100 barrier for Festival winners. Utterly unimaginable a mere ten years ago.

The supply chain is in full flow, he won the Gallagher and Triumph, Arkle, Brown Advisory and the bumper. Those playing catch-up continue to spend wildly to close to the gap.

Dan Skelton said after his own day of days here on Thursday: “And all this talk of Britain v Ireland, I hate to break it to you, it’s everyone versus Willie Mullins and we need a dose of reality on that too.”

And Willie’s winning.

When you go through his pantheon of Cheltenham champions none have ever rated higher on Timeform numbers in terms of their Prestbury Park winning performance than Galopin Des Champs.

Others in the future might – but he can go higher too. He might yet in the spring of 2024 because his season hasn’t finished yet.

“I’d normally come back to Punchestown with him; I’ll have a word with connections. 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,” Mullins said.

We should all be thankful for that – and thankful too that a Cheltenham Festival that lacked momentum, going into it, was run on very testing ground, in driving rain and under grey skies for most of the week, still had the moments to shine through the gloom, to lift the spirits, raise the pulse and have you dreaming of the days still to come.

And most involved horses trained by WP Mullins. Yep. Willie’s winning alright.

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