Willie Mullins holds key to novice Gold Cup - but has Paul Townend picked the right one?

This is a race with a rich history and a recent injection of superstardom. 

Galopin Des Champs got his show back on the road in this contest in 2022. Just a few weeks after capsizing at the last in the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, he coasted to an effortless 18-length triumph under Paul Townend here. It was the third of his 11 Grade 1 victories.

Four years earlier, Al Boum Photo was successful on his way to preceding Galopin Des Champs as a dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Their trainer Willie Mullins has had a real grip of this Grade 1, winning five in a row between 2018 and 2023 before the sequence was ended last year by Spillane's Tower. 

Mullins runs three this time and it cannot have been an easy call for the returning Paul Townend, who hasn't ridden since finishing second in the Grand National on I Am Maximus. He has plumped for Champ Kiely. 

The nine-year-old skipped Cheltenham and Aintree, winning a Grade 3 at Navan last month in decisive fashion instead. This is his track, this is his trip and the ground won't pose a problem, so you can easily understand why he is favourite. 

Grand National-winning jockey Patrick Mullins has picked up the mount on Ile Atlantique, whose big match-up against Majborough never materialised at the Dublin Racing Festival as he was never involved at any stage. That was on yielding ground, however, and he didn't enjoy it. 

According to Racing Post Ratings, Ile Atlantique's four best displays have been on officially soft ground. He is a mudlark and the 60mm of rain that has hit Fairyhouse in the last week will play in his favour. 

If he pops the first few fences up front and starts enjoying himself, he is definitely the one to beat. He is the highest-rated with a mark of 153 and is fresh after being kept at home during Cheltenham and Aintree. 

Mullins also has Spindleberry, who almost stole the other Grade 1 on this card last year. She is two from two over fences and has done absolutely nothing wrong. She is turning into a course specialist and gets the 7lb mares' allowance. There is plenty to like. 

It seems strange that Gordon Elliott has won this race only once, with Realt Mor in 2013, and Down Memory Lane looks the pick of his pair. 

Being put in his place by Lecky Watson is nothing to be ashamed of now and he has avoided some bruising battles at spring festivals across the water to wait for this. That helps. 

Firefox has danced most of the big dances for Elliott this season but is not moving as well as he was in the autumn. He looks up against it.

It looks like a record seventh win in the race for Mullins is forthcoming and maybe Ile Atlantique will be the one to provide it. 

What they say 

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Down Memory Lane and Firefox
Down Memory Lane is a very smart horse on his day. It just hasn't quite happened for him since he won his beginners' chase at Navan but the form of his last run at Punchestown was fairly franked by Lecky Watson at Cheltenham. He missed Cheltenham and Aintree, so comes here fresh and I'm hoping for a big run. Firefox started the season really well but disappointed me on his last two runs. This is his trip and he likes the track, so hopefully he can return to the sort of form we saw him in at the start of the season.

Patrick Mullins, rider of Ile Atlantique
We’ve always thought a lot of him and we were hoping chasing would bring out his potential. His first couple of runs over fences were very good, but a few horses who ran at that Naas meeting in January were below par at Leopardstown in the Dublin Racing Festival, so I would forgive him that and I’m expecting a very big run from him.

Con O'Keeffe, trainer of Kilbarry Saint
On the ratings we can't win, but if you're not in you can't win. She needs soft ground and will get that here. She ran a cracker at Exeter behind Only By Night and that form has worked out well, so you never know.

Danny Mullins, rider of Spindleberry
She's a great ride to pick up and the rain coming is a definite advantage to her. She's also got the mares' allowance, which brings her right into the mix.

Read more . . . 

3.30 Plumpton: 'He has a favourite's chance' - who fancies his runner to halt Dan Skelton's push for the trainers' title?  

4.05 Plumpton: Willie Mullins saddles four-strong team in £75,000 Sussex Champion Hurdle led by Cheltenham Festival and Ebor winner Absurde  

4.10 Fairyhouse: which of Henry de Bromhead's Cheltenham stars does he fancy for red hot mares' novice hurdle?  

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