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Really think this legend needs a thread of his own; another superb performance today, really hit the line hard, and been at the pinnacle of NH racing for the last 2 seasons. His debut over fences was spectacular, and I felt he lost something when they were trying to get him to settle. In retrospect his first Gold Cup was even more meritorious as he didn’t get the the run of the race, nor did was his fencing fluent. When they let him roll he is much more impressive. As Dessie and KS showed, it’s not all about the festival, so I hop she shows up at Leopardstown and Punchestown, tho Willie has observed that 3-mile chasing is vary hard on a horse (as opposed to 2 mile hurdling…)
A beautiful sight in full flow, and in my personal top five staying chasers (I have been following the sport since 1980).
I really hope he completes the hat-trick in March.
I haven’t seen any of today’s racing yet, so apologies for the after timing but I hope lots of people took the 5/6. That must have been one of the bets of the season.
Assuming he stays fit and well, his third Gold Cup and racing immortality looks as good as a certainty.
He’s a beautiful machine and by far the standout horse under both codes in the past three plus years. He gets beaten first time out, but that is always a decent G1 race and is also entitled to lose to a fresher Fastorslow on his final start of the season, but he never goes down without a fight.
It’s a great training feat to have him fully fit from mid-November to May year after year. And he is foot perfect over the most challenging fences in GB and IRE. Irish obstacles take a lot more jumping than the ones in Britain.
Hope he stays sound for a few more years.
“… by far the standout horse under both codes in the past three plus years.”
You posted something very similar in the Savills Chase thread. Bit disrespectful to Constitution Hill, in my opinion.
Just a magnificent racehorse. Huge engine,massive will to win and great jumper. The jump at the last took your breath away. Any other year fact to file would be a strong gold cup favourite. I think we have one of the best ever in gds. Loved him from his first race and hopefully he stays sound for at least another season.
“You posted something very similar in the Savills Chase thread. Bit disrespectful to Constitution Hill, in my opinion.”
Good to know that you like reading my posts. I don’t want to take anything away from CH considering the health issues he’s had. But jumping eight small flights of hurdles compared to 20 or 21 proper NH fences and competing agains genuine G1 performers shouldn’t require an explanation. You’ve been long enough in the game to acknowledge great and consistent performances at the highest level.
As I said, I have nothing but admiration for Galopin and his accomplishments. But to say he is “by far” the best/most exciting horse of recent years is debatable.
And I don’t necessarily “like” reading your posts. But I am always willing to consider others’ opinions.
I would have mentioned Altior, but he retired back in 2021. Maybe I went a bit to far with my “by far” comment, but I don’t think I’m he only who got carried away with today’s performance.
Altior/SS/Faugheen/A power/The Fly/M Flyer, all greats, but dominating the staying chase category is a step up
What horse in the sports’s history is/was 6 form 6 over fences (5 of them being G1s) over a stying trip at a premier course?
He’s an all time great and the 2nd best staying chaser I’ve seen behind the Almighty Kauto Star.
It was a special performance yesterday.
Galopin Des won yet another Grade 1 impressively. But his ability has been known for a while and didn’t need to be at his very best. ie Beating the totally exposed Gentlemansgame 12 1/2 lengths means he has in all probability not improved. The way Fact To File took a strong hold means he in all probability did not show the same form as in the Durkan. That said, GDC’s Savills was probably better than FTF’s John Durkan.Value Is EverythingThat was a serious performance, to quicken up the hill like that after a great round of jumping against some good yardsticks and rising stars.
What a superstar he is
Another magnificent performance today. Jumped superbly, always in control. Felt he never looked happy at Cheltenham, a shame he didn’t join the triple champions, but legends are built out of more than Cheltenham. Also pleased that Willie turned him out again, important that the public see these great horses. Hope we don’t go back to the Best Mate/Al Boum Photo template
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