MAURA Higgins rang in Galopin Des Champs as a sure thing in today’s Gold Cup in a promo video that Irish punters will hope won’t be called out for ageing badly.
The Willie Mullins phenom looks set to make history by storming to the Cheltenham Festival’s top prize for the third year on the trot.
In it, the Longford native assures her pal that Galopin is ‘an absolute banker’[/caption]
Before sarcastically adding that there is a chance Britain could see a winner in today’s big one for the first time in SEVEN years[/caption]
Ruby Walsh keeps a lower profile as he largely just wants to savour his pint of Guinness[/caption]
Whatever about taking the Love Island star’s tips to the bank, Irish jockey legend Barry Geraghty is in agreement with her.
Writing in his SunSport preview column for Day Four, he said: “All eyes will be on GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (4.00) in the Gold Cup as he goes for a third win in a row in the big one.
“The pressure is on, no doubt about that.
“Willie Mullins and Paul Townend have been amongst the winners all week but I know they would swap all of them to ensure Galopin Des Champs gets home and hosed.
“I think he will do it. He’s so uncomplicated and is such a classy performer.
“He’s been brilliant at Leopardstown this season and his form is pretty much identical to last season.
“He has been beating up Fact To File most of the season and look what he did yesterday.
“With the ground the way it is, I think Banbridge can run a big race, but I see him chasing Galopin Des Champs home, I don’t see him troubling him.”
There’s already been incredible drama around Prestbury Park as 100-1 rank outsider Poniros stormed to victory in the Triumph Hurdle.
The former Flat horse cost around £200,000 and, incredibly, was making his debut for master trainer Mullins.
It looked like market leaders Lulamba and East India Dock were going to fight it out up the hill of the 2m1f Grade 1 for four-year-old horses.
But Poniros – who had NEVER jumped a hurdle in public – just kept finding and finding and finding to spring the mother of all shocks and become the biggest-priced winner ever of the prestigious race.
He is the biggest price winner of a race at the Festival since Norton’s Coin in 1990, some 35 years ago.
Owner Tony Bloom bagged a tidy cheque for £84,405 with the win.
It remains to be seen if the legendary gambler – dubbed ‘the cleverest man to ever place a bet’ – had backed his own horse.
One lucky punter did though, sticking down £100 each way at 150-1 witn an on-course bookie to collect £18,200 in all.
Hopefully he had after seeing £50,000 go down the drain on his other horse Energumene earlier in the week.
He finished last in the Champion Chase while Bunting, another one he owns in the blue of his beloved Brighton, was punted heavily but was pulled up in the Coral Cup.
Stunned winning jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jnr said: “It’s crazy. It’s a funny old game because I was meant to be at Doncaster today.
“After declarations my agent, Alain Cawley, said Willie needed a jockey, but he said I should stay at Doncaster too.
“But with the way this week has been going anything of Willie’s has a chance.
“It’s unbelievable. That’s his first appearance in public over hurdles – what a place to do it. I really can’t believe he won!”
