Shock Result at Leopardstown as Favorite Falters
Racing history took an unexpected turn at the Dublin Racing Festival as Fact To File dominated the Irish Gold Cup, leaving two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs trailing in third place. The Willie Mullins-trained stable secured a remarkable 1-2-3 finish in Saturday’s feature chase, though not in the order most anticipated.
Race Drama Unfolds
Galopin Des Champs, attempting an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in this event, led early but faded dramatically in the final stretch. Fact To File surged ahead to claim a decisive five-length victory over stablemate Gaelic Warrior, with Galopin Des Champs clinging to third place just ahead of Firefox.
The drama intensified when fancied contender Inothewayurthinkin, last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, suffered a heavy fall at the final fence while well behind the leaders.
Jockey Excellence
Winning rider Mark Walsh celebrated his fourth Grade 1 victory of the weekend, building on previous successes with Kaid d’Authie, Majborough, and Narciso Has. Walsh demonstrated exceptional control aboard Fact To File, maintaining perfect rhythm throughout the challenging course.
Trainer Analysis
Willie Mullins praised both horse and jockey’s “hell of a performance,” remarking: “The jumping display was something to watch. There’s clearly more in the tank based on today’s showing.” Regarding future plans, Mullins confirmed Fact To File could still enter the Cheltenham Gold Cup through supplementary entry despite not being originally nominated.
The renowned trainer provided insights on his other runners: “Gaelic Warrior expended too much energy early – his stamina carried him to second. Galopin Des Champs ran respectably considering his tough December campaign. The extended break before Cheltenham should serve him well.”
Market Reactions
Bookmakers immediately reshaped Cheltenham Gold Cup betting markets following the result. Fact To File now leads the odds at 5-2, displacing previous favorite Galopin Des Champs. Gaelic Warrior sits at 7-1 for the Ryanair Chase, while Fact To File remains the 4-5 favorite for that alternative championship event.
