Galopin Des Champs showed he is as good as ever with a huge success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.
The eight-year-old son of Willie Mullins, winner of the last two renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, also won a grade one last season and went unbeaten over the fences at the Dublin track.
He was 5-6 favorite under Paul Townend but had stablemate Fact To File to contend with after he won the John Durkan Memorial after finishing third at Punchestown.
Galopin Des Champs made the full run and was out early and although Fact To File was chasing in the closing stages there was little he could do to keep the winner from crossing the line seven and a half lengths ahead.
Home By The Lee continues Joseph O’Brien’s dream
Home By Lee returned his Savills Hurdle title in fine style at Leopardstown as Joseph O’Brien’s Christmas hot streak continued at a fast pace.
O’Brien entered the race in 2022 but was fifth from six last year, although he has returned to good form this season to take the Lismullen Hurdle in mid-November.
Home By The Lee (red) heads for home in the Savills Hurdle
The JJ Slevin-trained 15-8 favorite set up his challenge to perfection to win by six lengths from Bob Olinger.
That would give O’Brien third grade over the Christmas period behind Bainbridge in the King George at Kempton Park on Thursday and Solness in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.
Kaid d’Authie puts Mullins back on the winning track
Willie Mullins’ Christmas luck turned for the better as Kaid d’Authie impressed to win the Savills Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The four-year-old had just one start for his power stable, finishing fifth to now stablemate Majborough at Auteuil last April on previous connections.
His first run with Mullins and new owner J.J.
Under Paul Townend, he looked comfortable over the two-mile, four-furlong affair, happily going on to win by a length in the straight from Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin.
“He’s a great big, long-paced horse who has very little respect for his barriers and looks like he could be more of a chaser,” said Mullins, who had worn a thin spell by his standards during the first two days of racing .
“He’s a big chasing type and similar to Majboro. They both cover a huge amount of ground when they run.
“I’d say he’ll come back here at the Dublin Festival of Racing and play with the top two miles and we’ll see where he’s at then.”
