Cheltenham Gold Cup 2023

In 2023, for the fifth time in as many years, the Cheltenham Gold Cup went to Ireland and, for the third time in that period, to horse trained by Closutton maestro Willie Mullins and ridden by his stable jockey Paul Townend. On soft going, thirteen horses went to post and the race was won by 7/5 favourite Galopin Des Champs, who had fallen at the final fence in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, with the race at his mercy, but was unbeaten in three subsequent starts over fences, all at Grade 1 level.

Galopin Des Champs made a mistake at the third-last fence, but could be called the winner some way from home, overhauling the weakening leader, Bravemansgame, at the last and keeping on strongly to win, going away, by 7 lengths. Bravemansgame, the 6/1 second favourite, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Harry Cobden, finished clear second, 6½ lengths ahead of Savills Chase winner Conflated, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Sam Ewing.

Townend, who had previously ridden Al Boum Photo to victory in the ‘Blue Riband’ event in both 2019 and 2020, said, “The Gold Cup brings winning to a different level. Cheltenham is very important, but the Gold Cup just has that little bit more spice to it.” At his post-race press conference, Mullins said, “…he is only seven and horses do improve until they are eight or nine, so I’d like think there is a little bit of improvement there.”