Galopin Des Champs clears the last © Photo Healy Racing
The Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) went, as anticipated, to the 4/9 favourite Galopin Des Champs
Paul Townend ’s mount tracked French Dynamite until moving past that one towards the end of the back straight. The six-year-old put his stamp on proceedings racing down to the last and came home nine lengths ahead of Master McShee who was a further five and a half lengths ahead of third home Gaillard Du Mesnil Capodanno and Beacon Edge both departed before halfway.
Paddy Power go 15/8 (from 9/4) about the winner for the 2m4f Turners Novices’ Chase and 13/8 fav (from 2 fav) for the 3m Brown Advisory Festival Novices’ Chase.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: “I wasn't as happy with his jumping as I was at Christmas but then Paul said it was a Grade 1 pace today. Bryan Cooper got down off my other horse and said the same thing, they were going so fast.
“Paul said he didn't want to let him down to jump fences the way he did at Christmas otherwise he would maybe have been in front too early, on softer ground, so he held on to him a bit longer.
“He didn't go with them a few times and the horse was very brave and I was wondering how long that was going to last.
“They finished together, which is good, and both would have learned a lot from today's run against real stiff company. The horses behind him were really good horse, Grade 1 winners.
“When they jumped the second-last I said 'is there anything going well' and you could see all the jockeys were sort of nudging. I said 'Paul is still going well, all you've got to do now is jump the last' and that's what happened.
“My heart was in my mouth jumping those fences down the back whereas at Christmas I was waiting for another fence to come up because he was really pinging fences. Paul didn't want to let him do that today, he tried to teach him something.
“We'll just try and keep him right now and then decide where we are going to go. A lot of things can happen between now and Cheltenham.
“Hopefully we are sound and well the week before Cheltenham and we'll know then what's happening.”
Paul Townend told RTE: "He’s a brilliant jumper. He spotted a couple of long ones that I didn’t, anyway, throughout the race!
“He knew he had a race there today but he still hit the line well. It was a pressure ride and I’m glad it worked out.
“He possibly would appreciate further but when he can put in performances like that over today’s trip, it definitely opens more doors for him.
“I’m glad it worked out. He had to do it today because he got it his own way here at Christmas. What he did that day was very special to see but he had to back it up in my book and he didn’t do himself any harm there, I think.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
