Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30 €275,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1  |
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1 Galopin Des Champs 5/6F
2 Spillane's Tower 4/1
4 ran Distances: 22l, 2¼l, 23l
Time: 6m 19.70s (slow by 14.70s)
HE IS BACK! 👑
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) April 30, 2025
An amazing front-running jumping performance by Galopin Des Champs who shows his class in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup under Paul Townend! pic.twitter.com/X67Wb1zYGH
Twelve months on from a narrow defeat and just weeks after the disappointment of Cheltenham, Willie Mullins' nine-year-old silenced any doubters in emphatic style—striding clear under a supremely confident Paul Townend to finally claim a prize that had twice eluded him.
From flagfall, there was a swagger in the champion’s step. He travelled with zest, ears pricked and feet dancing, bossing the pace in a manner that left rivals floundering. Where Cheltenham saw hesitancy, here he was foot-perfect—jumping like he meant it, galloping like he owned it.
Monty’s Star was the first to wave the white flag, Rachael Blackmore recognising the game was up. Banbridge, the King George hero, never looked at ease and found himself paddling when the tempo lifted. It briefly looked as though Spillane’s Tower might offer a challenge, cruising into it with a degree of menace four out—but the mistake came at precisely the wrong time, and with it, the challenge crumbled.
Sensing the moment, Townend didn't hesitate. He pressed the button, and the response was electric. Galopin Des Champs soared over the last as if spring-loaded, galloping on with daylight—and then some—between himself and the rest. Twenty-two lengths the official margin, but the statement was even bigger.
“He was back to his best,” beamed Mullins, clearly as proud as he was relieved. “Paul was brimming with confidence, and once he jumped the first like that, I thought we were in business.”
It was not just the performance, but the manner of it—the fluency, the ease, the glint in the eye. Townend, ever the master of timing, later admitted there was no Plan B. “He was never going to take no for an answer.”
With the sun baking the Punchestown turf, it was the sparkle in the horse that mattered most. The joy, the rhythm, the sheer sense of occasion. Mullins summed it up best: “You’ve got to run good horses in good races. Never be afraid to be beaten. I’m not.”
And on this evidence, neither is Galopin Des Champs.
Punchestown Gold Cup
€275,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Yielding
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Galopin Des Champs 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 5/6F
2 22 Spillane's Tower 7 11-10 James Joseph Mangan Mark Walsh 4/1
3 2¼ Monty's Star 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 13/2
4 23 Banbridge 9 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 4/1
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2024 Fastorslow 8 11-10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil J J Slevin 7/2
2023 Fastorslow 7 11-10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil J J Slevin 20/1
2022 Allaho 8 11-10 Cheveley Park Stud W P Mullins Paul Townend 6/5F
2021 Clan Des Obeaux 9 11-12 Mr & Mrs P K Barber, G Mason & Sir A Ferguson Paul Nicholls Sam Twiston-Davies 100/30
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Kemboy 7-11-10 Kemboy/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp Syndicate Willie Mullins R Walsh 13/8F
2018 Bellshill 8-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins DJ Mullins 4/1
2017 Sizing John 7-11-10 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J Harrington R M Power 9/10F
2016 Carlingford Lough 10-11-10 J P McManus John Kiely Barry Geraghty 12/1
2015 Don Cossack 8-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Paul Carberry 5/2
2014 Boston Bob 9-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/2 Fav
2013 Sir Des Champs 7-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Davy Russell 2/1 Fav
2012 China Rock 9-11-10 Michael O’Flynn Mouse Morris Barry Geraghty 20/1
2011 Follow The Plan 8-11-10 Redgap Partnership Oliver McKiernan Tom Doyle 20/1
2010 Planet Of Sound 8-11-10 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs GB Richard Johnson 14/1
2009 Notre Pere 8-11-10 Tilly Conway Jim Dreaper Andrew Lynch 15/8 Fav
2008 Neptune Collonges 7-11-10 John Hales Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 9/10 Fav
2007 Neptune Collonges 6-11-12 John Hales Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 8/1
2006 War Of Attrition 7-11-12 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris Conor O’Dwyer 4/5 Fav
2005 Kicking King 7-11-12 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe Barry Geraghty 8/11 Fav
2004 Beef Or Salmon 8-11-12 Joe Craig Michael Hourigan Timmy Murphy 5/4 Fav
2003 First Gold 10-12-00 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen 7/4 Fav
2002 Florida Pearl 10-12-00 Violet O’Leary Willie Mullins Barry Geraghty 13/8 Fav
*2001 Moscow Express 9-12-00 John Corr Frances Crowley Barry Geraghty 8/11 Fav
2000 Commanche Court 7-11-09 Dermot Desmond Ted Walsh Ruby Walsh 100/30
1999 Imperial Call 10-11-09 Lisselan Farms Ltd Raymond Hurley Ruby Walsh 8/1
1998 Mahler 8-10-12 English Badminton P’ship Nigel Twiston-Davies GB Carl Llewellyn 5/1
1997 Noyan 7-11-01 C H McGhie Richard Fahey GB Norman Williamson 13/2
1996 Billygoat Gruff 7-11-03 Peter Cooper David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 7/1
1995 Butches Boy 6-10-07 Bridget Kennedy Pat Fahy Francis Woods 14/1
1994 Merry Gale 6-12-00 Herb M Stanley Jim Dreaper Kevin O’Brien 5/2
1993 Fissure Seal 7-11-01 Delton Syndicate Harry de Bromhead Graham Bradley 7/1
1992 Second Schedual 7-11-00 Hugh McMahon Arthur Moore Richard Dunwoody 12/1
1991 Local Whisper 7-10-07 Mrs Chris Harrington Arthur Bunyan Tommy Carmody 9/4 Fav
1990 Mixed Blends 8-11-00 J Spearman Mouse Morris Charlie Swan 7/4
1989 Super Furrow 9-11-09 Mrs M Marshall Jerry O’Neill Padge Gill 8/1
1988 Doubtful Venture 12-10-07 E Morrissey Paddy Mullins Conor O’Dwyer 12/1
1987 Bankers Benefit 7-10-13 Brigadier B Fowler John Fowler Anthony Powell 6/4 Fav
1986 Daltmore 8-10-01 N Coburn Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 20/1
1985 Larry’s Latest 8-10-01 Miss A Collen Miss A Collen M Cummins 14/1
1984 Lantern Lodge 7-9-09 Mrs M Farrell Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 7/2 Fav
1983 Pearlstone 7-10-08 William W Brainard Jnr Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 3/1 Fav
1982 Fethard Friend 7-10-09 M Aherne Francis Flood Frank Berry 7/4 Fav
1981 Luska 7-10-01 John Brophy Paddy Mullins T V Finn 100/30
1980 Kilbricken Money 11-9-07 Mrs Charmian Hill
*Run at Fairyhouse
