Galopin Des Champs clinched his tenth Grade One triumph after dominating his stablemate Reality To File to win the Savills Chase on day three of the Leopardstown Christmas Pageant.
Reality To File had gained the battle of the Willie Mullins-trained stars within the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown five weeks ago when final 12 months’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was solely third.
However crucially the John Durkan was solely over two-and-a-half miles, versus Saturday’s distance of three miles, and Galopin Des Champs was a well-backed 5-6 favorite to land the large race of the Leopardstown assembly.
Paul Townend was on board for Galopin Des Champs’ newest triumph two days after driving Banbridge to victory within the King George at Kempton.
Townend’s mount led each step of the best way at Leopardstown and pulled away on the run-in to win by seven-and-a-half lengths after his 13-8 stablemate had moved to inside a size of him on the final.
“That was some efficiency,” coach Mullins instructed RTE Sport after Galopin Des Champs’ victory.
“It is among the best performances I’ve seen round right here anyway. It is scary to assume he is bettering at 9 [years old]. Hopefully he hasn’t left his entire season behind him.”
The Mouse Morris-trained 28-1 shot Gentlemansgame accomplished the highest three with Mullins’ Aintree Grand Nationwide winner from earlier this 12 months, I Am Maximus, by no means in rivalry in Saturday’s massive race.
