Cheltenham Festival

David Casey: Galopin Des Champs in the best form he’s been all season

10 hours ago

| BY News Team

David Casey believes Galopin Des Champs is in the best form he’s been in all season, as huge confidence from the Mullins camp continues to build around the former Gold Cup hero.

Speaking on the latest episode of William Hill Inside Track: Ireland, Casey couldn’t hide his positivity about the two-time blue riband winner as he bids to become the first horse to regain the crown since Kauto Star 17 years ago.

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Casey, Willie Mullins’ assistant trainer, said: “Galopin Des Champs’ last 10 days of work have been top notch, it’s the best I have seen from him all season. The horse is in a good place and I’m really happy with him ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“He had a mishap and missed the John Durkan at the start of the year, so it was a bit of rush to get him ready for the Savills Chase at Christmas.

“That said, I thought he ran a stormer behind Affordale Fury back in third and I thought he was in great order going to the Dublin Racing Festival. Looking at that, I thought he ran a fraction flat and maybe Christmas took more out of him than we thought, but his recent work has been excellent.

“I think he will run a big race in the Gold Cup. It looks a competitive renewal, but we’ve had a lot of rain and if there’s juice in the ground, he will run a big race.”

Roll the dice with Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle, says Casey

Lossiemouth’s target for the Cheltenham Festival has been a regular topic for the past three seasons, and this year is no different.

While connections have previously avoided the Champion Hurdle, Casey suggested that this year might be the time to chance her in the Tuesday feature:

“Lossiemouth definitely has the ability to win a Champion Hurdle, particularly this year, and I’m coming round to the idea that she should go for the big one this year.

“I didn’t think she would be good enough to win last year, she obviously has the option of the Mares’ Hurdle which would seem the easier choice, but you’ve got Wodhooh in there who’s a very good mare.

“It would seem that she’s only got one to beat and everyone loves a winner at Cheltenham – Willie (Mullins) and Rich (Ricci) will have to have the discussion and decide where they want to go.

“I have no doubts that she is a better mare over two-and-a-half miles, but I think this year, all the main protagonists in the Champion would be better over that distance.

“It’s a toss of a coin between the two races but it’d probably be her last chance to win the race so I’m coming round to it. I’d suggest rolling the dice and running her in the Champion.”

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Cheltenham Festival

Horse racing Cheltenham Festival The Inside Track David Casey