'A superstar nobody will forget' - Galopin Des Champs dies aged ten just five days after retirement announced

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Galopin Des Champs, the brilliant dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and one of the best staying chasers of recent times, has died just five days after it was announced he had been retired.

The ten-year-old's racing career came to an end last week when trainer Willie Mullins announced his retirement, after which he said Galopin Des Champs would be looked after by Ruby Walsh's daughter Isabelle for an eventing career. However, he has since suffered a fatal injury.

Owned by Greg and Audrey Turley, Galopin Des Champs won 12 Grade 1 races during an incredible career, highlighted by back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs in 2023 and 2024.

• Galopin Des Champs was so much more than just a winning machine - he was one of the few who found a way into our hearts 
• 'This is the best chaser I've trained' - Galopin Des Champs' glittering career in quotes 
• ARCHIVE: Glorious Galopin Des Champs joins the greats as he wins back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups in supreme style 

In a statement announcing his death, Ruby Walsh said: "Sadly, Galopin Des Champs suffered an injury in his field this morning and could not be saved. 

"He was checked a few times throughout the morning, but late in the morning when I went to get him for exercise, I found him with a severe injury, high up on his near front leg. He was attended to by our vets immediately, but x-rays revealed extensive, unrepairable damage.

"He was a fabulous horse whose short time with us has left lots of broken hearts, but none more so than those of Greg, Audrey and Sarah Turley, and Adam Connolly, who looked after him for so long. He will be sadly missed."

Mullins said: "It's devastating for Audrey and Greg and heartbreaking for Ruby and Isabelle, who were so looking forward to him. It's just so unfortunate and my heart goes out to both families. He was a legend of a horse." 

Paul Townend rode Galopin Des Champs in all bar four of his races and was on board for every Grade 1 triumph. He hailed the top-class star for what he did for his career.

He told the Racing Post: "He was a horse of a lifetime, a superstar nobody will forget and I certainly won't. As sad as today is, we can't lose sight of the fact of just how lucky we were to be on the amazing journey with him over the last few years. It was magic.

"Only last week, when it was announced that he was retired, you could see all the tributes pouring in for him and how much he meant to the public. He was loved by everyone."

Galopin Des Champs gets a kiss from Paul Townend after the Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Galopin Des Champs was not only hugely popular because of his Cheltenham Festival triumphs, but also for his remarkable performances at Leopardstown, where he landed an Irish Gold Cup hat-trick between 2023 and 2025.

His best performance on Racing Post Ratings came at that track, when he beat Gerri Colombe by a staggering 23 lengths in his first Savills Chase victory in 2023 to earn a rating of 184. However, his third Irish Gold Cup triumph is what Townend remembers most fondly. 

He said: "I'll never forget for as long as I live the roar from the stands when he jumped the last ditch at Leopardstown the last time he won the Irish Gold Cup. It's a long way from there to the stands, but it was so loud when he landed. I have never heard anything like that before.

"Then, when he came back into the parade ring afterwards, the reception he got was unreal. You don't see that too often. The place went nuts."

The last run of his glittering career came at Leopardstown, where he was third in the Irish Gold Cup behind Fact To File in February. 

Townend added: "The best thing about Galopin was that he was such a gentleman. Honest to God, you wouldn't even have to put a bridle on him to ride him in the latter years he was so well behaved, especially around Leopardstown. He loved it there."

Crowds gather to get a glimpse of superstar chaser Galopin Des Champs following his third Irish Gold Cup winCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Galopin Des Champs' other Grade 1 wins over fences included the 2024 Savills Chase, the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, BoyleSports Gold Cup and John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in 2022, and the 2025 Punchestown Gold Cup. His stunning 22-length triumph in the latter was the last victory of his career.

Galopin Des Champs could not complete a historic hat-trick in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing second in 2025 behind Inothewayurthinkin before missing this year's race through injury.

His win at the highest level over hurdles came in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at the 2021 Punchestown festival, while his first triumph at the Cheltenham Festival came that same year in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend celebrate winning back-to-back Gold CupsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Galopin Des Champs' Martin Pipe win was the only time Townend did not ride him at the Cheltenham Festival. He added: "He was a proper gentleman of a horse in every way. He really matured as he got older. 

"He was obviously quite exuberant in the early days but he became so accurate and assured as he went on and he was an absolute pleasure to ride. I feel so privileged to be the one who got to ride him and I owe him so much." 

In a statement published on its social media channels, Cheltenham said: "Everyone at Cheltenham is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Galopin Des Champs, a two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and one of the great stars of our sport.

"Our heartfelt condolences go to his owners, Greg and Audrey Turley and their family, and to Willie Mullins and the entire Closutton team. Galopin Des Champs gave us so many unforgettable moments at Cheltenham. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered as a true champion."

Galopin Des Champs won 15 of his 26 races, earning more than £1.9 million in prize-money.

Read more:

Galopin Des Champs was so much more than just a Grade 1-winning machine, he was one of the few who found a way into our hearts 

ARCHIVE: Glorious Galopin Des Champs joins the greats as he wins back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups in supreme style 

'This is the best chaser I've trained' - Galopin Des Champs' glittering career in quotes 

Willie Mullins hails 'very rare' Galopin Des Champs and reveals plan for star chaser's new career with Ruby Walsh's daughter 

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