Can Galopin Des Champs bounce back at Punchestown this time? Galopin Des Champs came up short in his quest for an historic third Gold Cup win at Cheltenham, but can the Willie Mullins-trained star bounce back in the Punchestown equivalent? That's the poser for Galopin Des Champs' legion of fans, as well as Mullins and owners Audrey and Greg Turley as they consider the end-of-season jamboree in Co Kildare as a possible next stop. Gold Cup didn't go to plan No matter what way it has been sliced since, the Gold Cup simply didn't go to plan for Galopin Des Champs. Paul Townend, the man on board, said he was never happy bar for a few strides at the top of the hill on the final circuit, when he thought his partner might be about to kick into gear. Willie Mullins, observing from the stands, admits he was never quite content during the race either and, since Cheltenham, assistant trainer Patrick Mullins has talked in his Racing Post column of watching it all unfold. "The worry had started immediately. Gentlemansgame beat him to the first fence. You could tell Paul was having to ride the tide of the race as opposed to charting his own course," said Mullins. He was six lengths second-best behind Inothewayurthinkin as the silver medallist, but a dozen clear of Gentlemansgame as the Mouse Morris inmate clambered onto the podium ahead of Monty's Star. Punchestown has plenty of ghosts The Gold Cup was the first time Galopin Des Champs has been defeated when standing up around Cheltenham, his previous Cotswolds setback coming when he fell at the final obstacle as a novice over fences with the race at his mercy. At Leopardstown he has proved unbeatable, a perfect seven from seven over fences at the Foxrock venue with six Grade 1s on his CV. Prior to his defeat in the Cotswolds the only defeats over fences when completing all came at Punchestown, where his record shows four defeats in five starts over fences. They've all come since he won the John Durkan Memorial Chase in December 2022 on his first foray over fences at the home of Irish jumps racing. At Punchestown, Galopin Des Champs has proved anything but peerless. Hope springs eternal Three of those defeats were behind Fastorslow, twice in the Punchestown Gold Cup and once in the John Durkan. Galopin Des Champs was ahead of that old foe back in November in the same Grade 1 contest, but Fact To File and Spillane's Tower finished better over the reduced distance. Fact To File was very impressive in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, but will Mullins consider stepping back up in trip now? That is open to plenty of debate. Spillane's Tower could be a runner, but Martin Brassil's Fastorslow is out for the season. Cheltenham hero Inothewayurthinkin is being considered for Punchestown on Wednesday April 30th, though a firm decision is yet to be made. Next season's Gold Cup is likely to be the race ringed on the calendar for Galopin Des Champs and it would be a brave call, given his back catalogue at the track, to forecast he will return to winning ways in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Get €40 in FREE bets with the William Hill sign up offer ahead of Punchestown:
