Seven-time Irish champion jockey Paul Townend admitted it would be "hard to get off" Galopin Des Champs as the 10-year-old aims to become only the second horse ever to regain the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Townend was in the saddle when Willie Mullins' star chaser landed the blue riband event at Prestbury Park with a seven-length victory over Bravemansgame in 2023, before successfully defending his crown 12 months later to become the eighth horse to win the race on more than one occasion.
He was an odds-on favourite to complete a hat-trick of triumphs last year, but was usurped by Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin as he came home six lengths behind in second.
Only Kauto Star has ever reclaimed the Gold Cup following his wins in 2007 and 2009. Should he do so, Galopin Des Champs would join the likes of Arkle, L’Escargot and Best Mate as a three-time winner of the race.
Mullins’ number one jockey could have a decision on his hands after Gaelic Warrior finished eight and a half lengths ahead of the third-placed Audrey Turley-owned star during the Irish Gold Cup earlier this month.
"Nothing is impossible, but it would be hard to get off Galopin Des Champs and I don’t think he is finished yet," Townend said.
"I’m not saying I would get off him, but if I did and he came by me up the hill then I would say keep a wide berth on the plane ride home.
"He’s got credit in the bank, which he deserves, and it would be ideal for me if they both didn’t turn up and they are decisions you do have to give a lot of thought. That is just the competitiveness of it and every decision is taken seriously.
"It was a good race and I thought we went a good gallop and I thought Fact To File was very good on the day. Gaelic Warrior was very good while probably overracing for the tempo we were going at and I thought it rode a proper race."
When asked how big of an achievement it would be for Galopin Des Champs to return to the winner’s enclosure at the Cheltenham Festival.
"It would be right up there if Galopin regained the Gold Cup," he added.
"I’d love it for the horse more than anything and I’d never turn away another Gold Cup that’s for sure. It would be (right up there), and he’s with the right man to get him there in the best form.
"I thought there was a lot to like during the race, just the feel I was getting from him at Leopardstown on the last day and hopefully he can bring that again and I think he can, he’s entitled to."
Mullins has a conundrum with star mare Lossiemouth as to whether to target a third straight Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle or have a tilt at the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
The Closutton powerhouse came in for criticism last year as the Rich Ricci-owned seven-year-old coasted to victory against her own sex, while Golden Ace took advantage of falls from Constitution Hill and State Man to secure the shock win in the latter.
But with State Man, who fell at last in the hands by Townend, ruled out for the season and Nicky Henderson’s hurdling star still remaining inconsistent, the door is open for Lossiemouth.
"I suppose this year is different in the way the Champion Hurdle is setting up," Townend said.
"I didn’t think she could beat State Man last year and at the DRF (in 2024) I stuck with him.
"She does seem to come alive and you do get a better feel off her at Cheltenham than anywhere else, so I don’t think it’s impossible she could win a Champion Hurdle."
Another star in the Mullins’ camp heading to Cheltenham is Kopek Des Bordes, who has been installed as Arkle second-favourite despite just one race over fences in his career.
"It’s a worry going there with just one run, but he had enough runs as a hurdler and was there at Cheltenham as a hurdler as well which takes a bit of the worry out of it," the jockey said.
"Of course you’d love more experience into him, but I loved what he did at Punchestown the other day and had learned plenty from Navan.
"The owners are a great bunch who enjoy it so much and he’s a horse of a lifetime for them.
"Charlie (McCarthy, owner) has been in racing a long time looking for one like him and he’s going to enjoy it now he has one. He’s an exciting horse and you’d rather have him than be taking him on."
