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The Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs is ‘in great form’ ahead of his Gold Cup defence at the Festival next month.
There were some question marks raised about the eight-year-old following two defeats behind Fastorslow at Punchestown in April and October, but the gelding returned to his best with an emphatic twenty-three length success in the Grade 1 Savills Chase over Christmas before reversing the form with his old rival in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup.
"He's come out of his race in Leopardstown very well and I'm very happy. It's going to be a tip-top Gold Cup I think. We're in great form," Willie Mullins said at Monday's media morning.
"I'd wanted him ridden off the pace the two years before as I felt he was too keen and I didn't want him getting drawn into a battle, but this year I don't mind.
"He's bigger and stronger, well certainly stronger but he's more mature now and definitely up for it (leading)."
Galopin Des Champs may not be the only Closutton runner in the Gold Cup, with talented stablemate Monkfish considered. Winner of the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Festival in 2021, the gelding has struggled with injury since and returned after a 273-day break with a win in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park last month.
"Monkfish is also in the Stayers' Hurdle, but if enough rain comes, I'd seriously have to consider him for the Gold Cup," he added.
"He's got the class, and I was happy he came back in good order in Gowran, albeit over hurdles.
"At the moment I'd say I'll prepare him for the Gold Cup, I'll have a word with Rich (Ricci, owner) and see what he is thinking.
"I thought he went a long way to answering if he was as good as he was at Gowran and come Cheltenham, he will be better again."
Mullins fielded the only two runners in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, with Fact To File coming home alone after Gaelic Warrior unseated at the last, following a disappointing performance. The pair are both set for Cheltenham, with targets unconfirmed.
"Fact To File is in the Brown Advisory and Turners at Cheltenham. I'd be leaning towards the Brown Advisory, but I'm just wondering what other horses in the same colours might be going that way," Mullins added.
"His speed figure at the Dublin Racing Festival was fantastic. Someone told me at Christmas in his beginners' chase he did a huge one, I'm into what I see visually and the way they do it but the run at Christmas it transpired was right and he doubled down on it.
"Fact To File has done everything right and has put in a huge trial for either race at Cheltenham.
"Obviously going left-handed didn't suit Gaelic Warrior, but getting worked up before the race didn't help and during the race, he made a mistake at the fourth last which seemed to unsettle him.
"He was very disappointing, but he seems all right. He's a little quiet in himself but he would be, most good horses are when they are beaten.
"We'll try to get him right and the Turners was what we had in mind for him."
