The score is currently 2-1 in favour of Fastorslow but Galopin Des Champs can even things up in the Irish Gold Cup on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Martin Brassil’s charge has turned over the Gold Cup winner in their last couple of meetings but may just be facing a different animal this time.
Galopin Des Champs didn’t look at his best when having to settle for second best at Punchestown last April and he wouldn’t have been the first horse to feel the effects of a tough race at Cheltenham.
On their seasonal debuts this season Fastorslow again emerged on top in the ‘John Durkan’ when Galopin Des Champs could finish only third.
Willie Mullins felt they got the tactics wrong that day and with a more positive ride, back up at three miles, here at Christmas the brilliant black gelding showed his very best.
Paul Townend’s mount jumped much better than when allowed to roll along in a handy position and he obliterated some good horses when posting a 23-length win in the Savills Chase (see video below).
That was much more like the horse we had seen last season and Mullins turns him out again in a bid to follow up last year’s success in this race.
He is going to be a short price to add another top level prize to his CV and if he’s in the form we witnessed last time it’s hard to see anything being good enough to beat him.
Fastorslow has emerged as a real challenger with his two victories at Punchestown.
There have been excuses for Galopin Des Champs on each occasion but to be fair he can only beat what is in front of him and has done the job in fine style.
The Saint des Saints gelding is a top-class performer in his own right and if there are any chinks in the armour he’s going to expose them.
It looks like it could be another day of domination for Mullins with an astonishing 23 runners on the card.
He saddles six of the 11 runners in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle and Townend sides with exciting Punchestown winner Storm Heart.
The French-import showed a serious engine on New Year’s Eve when powering away before the last for a 22-length win.
Mullins admitted afterwards that he surprised him and thought there was improvement to come. His jumping wasn’t slick early but he was good at the business end and it was hard not to be impressed.
An interesting rival in the race is the JP McManus-owned Majborough.
There has been a bit of chat about the French-import, who won his sole start at Auteuil, and he is already around a 14/1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle.
The opening Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle is probably the most open of the Grade One contests and it may be worth taking a chance on the mare Jetara.
Jessica Harrington’s charge comes into the race in red-hot form after three impressive victories this season.
She beat a solid bunch of mares in fine style here at Christmas and stepping up another couple of furlongs looks to hold no fear for her.
The six-year-old gets a handy 7lb pull from the geldings in the race and Rachael Blackmore is a positive booking.
All eyes will be on Marine Nationale in the Goffs Irish Arkle as he puts his unbeaten record on the line.
With Gaelic Warrior turning out on Sunday instead it looks to leave the two-mile contest at the mercy of Barry Connell’s gelding.
Last year’s brilliant Supreme Novice winner was faultless on his chase debut here at Christmas and looks a class above this field, even though it includes Grade One winners Found A Fifty and Facile Vega.
It’s a bit disappointing to see only one British-trained runner on the card but Madara does look to have a big shout for Sophie Leech in the Ryanair Handicap Chase over two-miles-one.
The Doctor Dino gelding was a good winner at Cheltenham in mid-December and off a mark of 133 in Ireland he looks nicely treated.
Selections
1.20 Jetara (Dbl)
1.50 Storm Heart
2.25 Marine Nationale
3.00 Panda Boy
3.35 Galopin Des Champs
4.10 Madara (Nap)
4.40 A Dream To Share
