Fact To File bounced back to form to lift the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, with stablemate Galopin Des Champs having to settle for a gallant third place in his bid to land the Leopardstown showpiece for the fourth year in a row.<\/p>\n
A dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and victorious in the Dublin Racing Festival feature in each of the past three seasons, Galopin Des Champs was the 15-8 favourite to match the feat of another Willie Mullins-trained superstar in Florida Pearl, who claimed four renewals between 1999 and 2004.<\/p>\n
The 10-year-old suffered his first defeat in eight starts over fences at Leopardstown when third in his bid for a third Savills Chase in late December, but as that was his belated seasonal reappearance improvement was expected under Paul Townend.<\/p>\n
After tracking Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury for much of the way, Galopin Des Champs jumped to the front four fences from home \u2013 drawing a cheer from the crowd \u2013 but was quickly joined by Monty’s Star and Fact To File, who was bidding to put a disappointing run in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day behind him.<\/p>\n
Another Mullins runner in Gaelic Warrior threw his hat into the ring from the home turn, but 9-2 shot Fact To File was travelling much the best under Mark Walsh and kept up the gallop to score by five lengths.<\/p>\n
Gaelic Warrior was a clear second, with Galopin Des Champs narrowly beating Firefox to third to give the champion trainer a one-two-three. Reigning Cheltenham hero Inothewayurthinkin was tired faller at the last, but was able to walk away.<\/p>\n
Mark Walsh said we saw the real Fact To File today in landing the Irish Gold Cup.<\/p>\n
After a difficult period, Walsh has won four Grade 1s this festival.<\/p>\n
“Long may it last,” he says. pic.twitter.com\/4oW8nP3Mc0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n