Boodles Gold Cup 2023 at Cheltenham: race review
Galopin Des Champs justified 7/5 favouritism and firmly put the ghost of 2022 to bed with a scintillating display to win the 2023 Gold Cup ahead of a resilient Bravemansgame.
The horse quashed doubts about his stamina and question marks about his jumping as he fended off a field of extraordinary depth thanks to a brave ride from his jockey.
Paul Townend settled his mount towards the rear alongside second-favourite A Plus Tard as Ahoy Senor set a gruelling pace. Punters knew his speed and stamina would be sorely tested when 12 lengths off the front at halfway.
On the final circuit Ahoy Senor caused bedlam when he fell along the back straight, badly impairing A Plus Tard. His SP of 9/2, having been 10/1 for much of yesterday, indicated confidence among connections but Rachael Blackmore pulled her mount up three out after he failed to take back the bit.
Turning for home, Protektorat nosed ahead of Hewick and Conflated but they had Bravemansgame, the King George winner who went off at 6/1, breathing down their necks.
Galopin Des Champs was still on the bridle back in fifth and he remained calm at the second-last even as Hewick fell. Townend remained motionless, slipstreaming Harry Cobden’s Bravemansgame heading to the final fence.
The pair were nose-to-nose when they reached it. The same fence they fell at when 12 lengths clear in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase.
This time, with a rival eye-balling him, Prestbury Park held its breath.
The horse produced a superb jump and then Townend pressed the button. They flew home, winning by seven lengths from Bravemansgame as Conflated (22/1) narrowly beat Noble Yeats (14/1) to third for each-way backers.
A P McCoy described Townend’s as the best ride he had ever seen in such a big race.
Pre-race Mullins was adamant his horse had a chance if he switched off early on. He applauded the jockey and Adam Connoly – who leads the horse up – for getting him in the right frame of mind this time around.
Mullins added: “I was wondering if we had overdone it a bit at the halfway stage. We were a long way off but they were pouring it on at the front.
“I always felt he had the class to win a Gold Cup. You’d like to think we’ll come back next year and hopefully win it.”
