2025 Gold Cup

[Craigy14]

I honestly don’t see anyway Galopin doesn’t win a third Gold Cup consecutively.

Those entries are very uninspiring imo. Who do we realistically think has a chance, Gerri Colombe who he battered and beat twice? Not seen since disappointing on seasonal debut. Monty’s Star, up and comer but again disappointed on seasonal debut and behind Fact To File you have to think on their BANC run. Then Fact To File who he’s put away comfortably, may get a chance for revenge in the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF but I’m expecting the same outcome there. Finally Grey Dawning, just a no for me and move on. Banbridge, again a firm no for me, one try at 3m and suddenly he’s going to beat the best chaser of a generation over another 2f on a stiffer track and also needs his ground.

[ComplyOrDie]

You're not wrong Craigy14

I'm of a similar opinion though can forgive Monty's Star for his seasonal debut.

Embassy Gardens was given an easy time of it on the front end and it ended up a sprint on a short run in, not ideal for a horse needing at least 3m.

Connections have also said they are working back from the Gold Cup, meaning he wasn't going to be tuned up to the max!

That all aside, it's a big struggle to see Galopin beat on all known current form.

[EnvoiAlien]

Agreed Craigy14, while we're short on top quality 3m+ chasers at the moment, Galopin really is a generational talent,they don't come around often & I hope he does get his 3 Gold Cups.

[Irish Rugby]

What's the betting if Galopin wins his 3rd GC, we'll get the same comments that Best Mate received, that he's consistently only beaten a group of average chasers.

[Istabraq]

What's the betting if Galopin wins his 3rd GC, we'll get the same comments that Best Mate received, that he's consistently only beaten a group of average chasers.

I never bought into that argument, you get weak renewals and you get strong renewals, you don't win three by being a bad winner.
I think the issue with Best Mate (at the time) was the tender way he was handled, Hen copped plenty of abuse over the way she trained him though it wasn't massively dissimilar to how many top jumpers are trained today.
People also forget that his third Gold Cup he had the likes of First Gold and Beef or Salmon well behind, and they were proper G1 horses...

[Yosser]

Anybody not on fact To File for the Ryanair yet.... I would watch the Irish Gold Cup with your finger poised over the 'Bet Now' button and if FTF is being left for dead jumping the last again hit that button multiple times

[riccirich]

Anybody not on fact To File for the Ryanair yet.... I would watch the Irish Gold Cup with your finger poised over the 'Bet Now' button and if FTF is being left for dead jumping the last again hit that button multiple times

I think the opportunity for that was Xmas when fact to file was 16/1, galopin to win, or win by a certain distance, doubled with ftf ryanair was the bet. Still 4/1 or so though I think so that exact double again at the drf might be a decent enough boost to the price.

[Yosser]

I think the opportunity for that was Xmas when fact to file was 16/1, galopin to win, or win by a certain distance, doubled with ftf ryanair was the bet. Still 4/1 or so though I think so that exact double again at the drf might be a decent enough boost to the price.

Yeah, i am already on but that will be the last chance saloon before he goes 13/8

[ComplyOrDie]

Yeah, i am already on but that will be the last chance saloon before he goes 13/8

He's Allaho 2.0 IMO. The only difference for me being that FTF might actually get the Gold Cup trip one day!

[robith]

You're not wrong Craigy14

I'm of a similar opinion though can forgive Monty's Star for his seasonal debut.

Embassy Gardens was given an easy time of it on the front end and it ended up a sprint on a short run in, not ideal for a horse needing at least 3m.

Connections have also said they are working back from the Gold Cup, meaning he wasn't going to be tuned up to the max!

That all aside, it's a big struggle to see Galopin beat on all known current form.

Not saying it means Monty is up to scratch, but forgiving Henry's a bad run during the season can be fairly profitable

[Lobos]

Word is that F2F is not going to be held up next time and is going to be let loose. Apparently Galopin used to be ridden the same way but as soon as he was given his head out in front he hasn't looked back. Could be in for some fireworks!

[TigerRolllllll]

I honestly don’t see anyway Galopin doesn’t win a third Gold Cup consecutively.

Those entries are very uninspiring imo. Who do we realistically think has a chance, Gerri Colombe who he battered and beat twice? Not seen since disappointing on seasonal debut. Monty’s Star, up and comer but again disappointed on seasonal debut and behind Fact To File you have to think on their BANC run. Then Fact To File who he’s put away comfortably, may get a chance for revenge in the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF but I’m expecting the same outcome there. Finally Grey Dawning, just a no for me and move on. Banbridge, again a firm no for me, one try at 3m and suddenly he’s going to beat the best chaser of a generation over another 2f on a stiffer track and also needs his ground.

I tend to agree

Most likely way he gets beaten is if there is something amiss on the day and he just doesn't run his race

Might be worth risking a few fun fcasts and tricasts on others in case, but not sure i'd be piling into anything else heavily

Only point i would make is i think its less that the others are uninspiring and more that GDC is a great....runs 180+ numbers fairly regularly !

[Eggs]

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2025/January/08/elliott-contemplating-windsor-run-for-gerri-colombe

[Lobos]

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2025...-gerri-colombe

Doesn't sound very encouraging does it. Clearly he's not been himself.

He's currently 3rd fav in the GC which says all you need to know about the strength of the race. The front two will dominate again .