'They all lined up to have a go at him and he left them for dead' - Galopin Des Champs owners Greg and Audrey Turley reflect on 'dream of a lifetime'

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Owners Greg and Audrey Turley called it the "dream of a lifetime" to have owned one of the greatest staying chasers in recent memory after dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs was retired.

• 'He gave everyone a great time' - Willie Mullins hails career of two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs 

The Turleys were taken on an incredible journey by the Willie Mullins-trained ten-year-old over the last six seasons and singled out his magnificent performance in the Irish Gold Cup in 2025 as the highlight, a performance which prompted scenes of near-unprecedented jubilation in the stands and parade ring at Leopardstown.

Speaking on the journey back from Closutton after the decision was taken to retire the legendary chaser, Greg said: "His last Irish Gold Cup stands out as they all lined up at the final fence to have a go at him and he just left them for dead.

"Paul [Townend, jockey] said he could hear the roar coming around the bend," added Audrey. "He said he'd never experienced anything like it before. It was just wonderful, it brought a tear to my eye. When everyone was singing, 'Ole, Ole Ole' – it was so emotional. People just love him, they adore him.

"We just left Willie's and Ruby [Walsh] and his daughter Isabelle just picked Galopin up and brought him over to his place. Isabelle is going to retrain him and do a bit of eventing with him as he's too young not to be doing anything and he's a very alert, bright horse who loves being around people."

Greg and Audrey Turley (red coat) with Paul Townend and Galopin Des Champs after the 2024 Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

When the Turleys first ventured into ownership, the ambition was to be represented at the Cheltenham Festival and it has been a remarkable success story since with Galopin Des Champs, who was bought after a winning debut in France in 2020, going on to become a festival legend, while last year's Turners winner King Rasko Grey looks set to have a huge future too.

"Our dream was to have a runner in Cheltenham when we started off in 2011," they said. "Our first runner at Cheltenham was Burning Victory, and she won the Triumph Hurdle. That was the start of our Cheltenham adventure, and what an adventure it turned out to be.

"It's been the dream of a lifetime. To win the Cheltenham Gold Cup once, never mind twice, not to mention the three Irish Gold Cups. He's a champion. He used to stand for over two hours at the homecoming parades at Leighlinbridge and people got their photograph, he never acted up. He loved the attention. 

"He was minded within an inch of his life at Willie's, they did a fantastic job."

Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend after winning the 2025 Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

They also hailed his partnership with Townend, who partnered him to 13 victories, and his groom Adam Connolly.

"Adam looked after him so well, he's a big part of the story. Galopin and Paul were totally in sync. Paul understood him and he understood Paul. He was a very uncomplicated horse to ride and Paul said he was an absolute dream to do anything with."

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'He gave everyone a great time' - Willie Mullins hails career of two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs 

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