‘A serious candidate here’ - Irish Gold Cup: Runner-by-runner guide One of the major highlights of the DRF is the Irish Gold Cup. Run over an extended three miles, Galopin Des Champs will be bidding to win it for the fourth year in a row and he faces 12 rivals. We’re going to go through every runner and assess their chances. 1. Affordale Fury (T: Noel Meade J: Donagh Meyler) 9/1 This horse has come on leaps and bounds this season and it’ll be interesting to see how far he can go. He won the Grade 1 Savills Chase handily at Leopardstown over Christmas, beating I Am Maximus and Galopin Des Champs, and further progress can’t be ruled out. 2. Champ Kiely (T: Willie Mullins J: J J Slevin) 40/1 He’s a talented performer on his day but is getting on a bit and might be regressing. Mullins’ 10-year-old was well beaten at Tramore last time out and is hard to fancy on that evidence. 3. Fact To File (T: Willie Mullins J: Mark Walsh) 7/1 Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File has been a little disappointing this season. He was a narrow second behind Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan on seasonal debut but dropped out tamely in the King George. The ability is there but he’s on a recovery mission. 4. Firefox (T: Gordon Elliott J: Sean Bowen) 66/1 Firefox is trying three-miles for the first time here and he was a comfortable winner at Down Royal on seasonal debut. He was beaten at 8/13 in a graduation chase at Ascot last month and that form leaves him with plenty to find at this level. 5. Gaelic Warrior (T: Willie Mullins J: Patrick Mullins) 13/2 Aintree Bowl winner Gaelic Warrior began the season by winning the John Durkan at the expense of Fact To File and was narrowly denied in the King George. It’s easy to make the case that he probably should have won and he’s a serious candidate here. 6. Galopin Des Champs (T: Willie Mullins J: Paul Townend) 13/8 Probably the best staying chaser of his generation, the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has won this race for the last three years and looks well set to make it four. He was entitled to need the run last time and should be much sharper this time around. 7. Grangeclare West (T: Willie Mullins J: Brian Hayes) 33/1 This horse ran a stormer to finish third in the Grand National last season and Aintree is probably on the agenda once again and today probably isn’t his day. 8. I Am Maximus (T: Willie Mullins J: Jack Kennedy) 14/1 Mullins’ gelding won the Grand National two seasons ago and finished second behind a stablemate last year. Finishing second in the Savills Chase here last time out, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make the frame again. 9. Inothewayurthinkin (T: Gavin Cromwell J: Keith Donoghue) 10/1 Currently the king of staying chasers, he usurped Galopin Des Champs to take the Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham in March. His two efforts so far this season have been nothing short of appalling however and he’s therefore hard to fancy. 10. Lecky Watson (T: Willie Mullins J: Sean O’Keeffe) 50/1 Lecky Watson sprung a bit of a surprise when winning the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham last season but he’s another who has disappointed so far this season. Seventh in the Savills Chase over Christmas, others are definitely preferred. 11. Monty’s Star (T: Henry de Bromhead J: Darragh O’Keeffe) 50/1 Henry de Bromhead’s gelding was a useful novice chaser, finishing second in two Grade 1s in the spring of 2024. He’s been pretty disappointing since however and appears to be pretty exposed at this level. 12. Stellar Story (T: Gordon Elliott J: Danny Gilligan) 50/1 The testing ground will definitely suit Stellar Story, who is a Grade 1 winner. He won the Albert Bartlett as a novice hurdler but hasn’t quite reached that level over fences. 13. Spindleberry (T: Willie Mullins J: Danny Mullins) 10/1 The progressive Spindleberry won the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over Easter and was victorious in a couple of Listed contests this season. It will be harder for her at this level but she should be competitive. 'Exclusive offer for irishracing.com customers - Bet 10 Get 80'
