Punters the Champs at Cheltenham As Mullins strikes gold

Punters piled out of Cheltenham on Friday with the bragging rights over the bookies after Galopin Des Champs delivered a victory in the big race for prolific trainer Willie Mullins. Some Tipperary punters had hoped Rachael Blackmore could work her magic once more in the big one but Paul Townend owned the hour. 

Mullins already had cause for celebration after landing the opening two races on Friday via 6/1 shot Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle and 12/1 winner Absurde in the County Hurdle. But punters joined in the festivities after the well supported Galopin Des Champs claimed Gold Cup glory having been backed off the boards to go off a hot odds-on favourite at 10/11.

The victory joined a host of Willie Mullins hotpots who delivered significant blows to the oddsmakers on Cheltenham week, with the likes of Ballyburn, Lossiemouth, State Man and Fact To File all contributing to a profitable week for punters who rowed in behind the hot Irish favourites.

Galopin Des Champs is already being backed at odds of 5/2 with BoyleSports to complete a Gold Cup hat-trick next year, a feat last achieved by Best Mate between 2002-2004.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “It was already a bruising week with so many Mullins winners going in, but he rubbed salt in our wounds on Friday and Galopin Des Champs was the knockout blow as he was the best backed horse of the week.”   

Gold Cup 2025

5/2        Galopin Des Champs

4/1        Fact To File

8/1        Il Est Français

11/1      Grey Dawning

14/1      Corbetts Cross

16/1      Gerri Colombe