Overview
- Willie Mullins announced the retirement on Thursday after he and the horse’s connections concluded the ten-year-old could not be expected to perform at his previous top level.
- Galopin Des Champs leaves the track with a record of about 15 wins from 26 starts, including 12 Grade 1 victories and back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups in 2023 and 2024.
- His final race was a third-place finish in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February, and he missed this year’s Cheltenham Festival after suffering a training setback.
- Owners Greg and Audrey Turley paid emotional tribute to the gelding and confirmed he has been transferred to Ruby Walsh’s family for assessment and retraining, with Isabelle Walsh due to try him in eventing.
- The decision underlines a growing focus in jump racing on welfare and second careers for top chasers, and Galopin Des Champs’ soundness and temperament were cited as reasons he is a good candidate for retraining.