‘I can promise you’ – Willie Mullins will not replicate Cheltenham success as trainer eyes history
Champion jockey Paddy Brennan has revealed the key factor which could deny Willie Mullins a third-straight Cheltenham Gold Cup win. The Irish trainer is hoping his horse, Galopin Des Champs, can be the first to win three consecutive Gold Cups since Best Mate did so in 2004. Champion trainer Mullins, right, is hoping to win a third successive Gold Cup, which has not been done in more than a decadeAFP - Getty Mullins also has two other horses competing in the Gold Cup with Fact To File and Grangeclare West. But Galopins Des Champs is the heavy favourite and with good reason, given the nine-year-old’s form at Cheltenham for the last two years. Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, Brennan – who rode Imperial Commander to victory in the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup – conceded Galopins Des Champs is ‘absolutely’ the leading horse. However, the Irishman revealed how the turf could hinder the chances of Mullins’ trio, including Galopins Des Champs. “But going through the last couple of nights, the more you look through, Willie is not going to win every race,” Brennan said. “I can promise you that now. If there’s anything that’s going to slow his horses down this year, it might be the ground. “Not every favourite is going to win and there’s definitely one I think can get beat.” Brennan also pointed out how this year’s Gold Cup field might be the smallest since 1973 given how favoured Galopin Des Champs is to take out a third-straight crown. However, a dry track could be the perfect tonic for Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge to cause an almighty upset. Brennan stressed Banbridge is the only other horse that can give Galopin Des Champs a run for its money. Brennan believes a hard surface could undo Galopins Des Champs’ bid for historyGetty But even if the turf is favourable for Banbridge, Brennan revealed the glaring question which will make or break the nine-year-old’s hopes. “Yes, [Galopin Des Champs] is going to be very hard to beat,” Brennan said. “But I think if the weather keeps like it is now, like I said, I live ten minutes away from Cheltenham and the sun is beaming down here this morning. “Banbridge could just travel up behind him. His issue will be, can he get by him? “But one’s going to be one-to-four, the other could be three-to-one. They’re definitely a one-two. “There’s nothing in the race other than Banbridge that can finish second.” Banbridge likely presents the only challenge to Mullins’ prized horseGETTY Should Mullins’ prized gelding win a third-straight Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 14, the Irish trainer will take home a share of £625,000 in prize money. In 2024, the winner’s cut amounted to more than £350,000 and Mullins will hope for similar this year. talkSPORT will, as ever, been in the thick of it at the Cheltenham Festival. You can hear the main races on Hawksbee and Jacobs – live from the racecourse between 1pm and 4pm – from Tuesday to Friday with commentary from Rupert Bell and Lizzie Kelly. Meanwhile, every single race will be live on Racing Live on talkSPORT2 with a daily preview show at 10am. As well as that, the Sports Breakfast will also becoming live from Cheltenham as the festival swings into action.
Champion jockey Paddy Brennan has revealed the key factor which could deny Willie Mullins a third-straight Cheltenham Gold Cup win.
The Irish trainer is hoping his horse, Galopin Des Champs, can be the first to win three consecutive Gold Cups since Best Mate did so in 2004.
Mullins also has two other horses competing in the Gold Cup with Fact To File and Grangeclare West.
But Galopins Des Champs is the heavy favourite and with good reason, given the nine-year-old’s form at Cheltenham for the last two years.
Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, Brennan – who rode Imperial Commander to victory in the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup – conceded Galopins Des Champs is ‘absolutely’ the leading horse.
However, the Irishman revealed how the turf could hinder the chances of Mullins’ trio, including Galopins Des Champs.
“But going through the last couple of nights, the more you look through, Willie is not going to win every race,” Brennan said.
“I can promise you that now. If there’s anything that’s going to slow his horses down this year, it might be the ground.
“Not every favourite is going to win and there’s definitely one I think can get beat.”
Brennan also pointed out how this year’s Gold Cup field might be the smallest since 1973 given how favoured Galopin Des Champs is to take out a third-straight crown.
However, a dry track could be the perfect tonic for Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge to cause an almighty upset.
Brennan stressed Banbridge is the only other horse that can give Galopin Des Champs a run for its money.
But even if the turf is favourable for Banbridge, Brennan revealed the glaring question which will make or break the nine-year-old’s hopes.
“Yes, [Galopin Des Champs] is going to be very hard to beat,” Brennan said.
“But I think if the weather keeps like it is now, like I said, I live ten minutes away from Cheltenham and the sun is beaming down here this morning.
“Banbridge could just travel up behind him. His issue will be, can he get by him?
“But one’s going to be one-to-four, the other could be three-to-one. They’re definitely a one-two.
“There’s nothing in the race other than Banbridge that can finish second.”
Should Mullins’ prized gelding win a third-straight Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 14, the Irish trainer will take home a share of £625,000 in prize money.
In 2024, the winner’s cut amounted to more than £350,000 and Mullins will hope for similar this year.
talkSPORT will, as ever, been in the thick of it at the Cheltenham Festival.
You can hear the main races on Hawksbee and Jacobs – live from the racecourse between 1pm and 4pm – from Tuesday to Friday with commentary from Rupert Bell and Lizzie Kelly.
Meanwhile, every single race will be live on Racing Live on talkSPORT2 with a daily preview show at 10am.
As well as that, the Sports Breakfast will also becoming live from Cheltenham as the festival swings into action.
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