Monday’s rescheduled Irish Gold Cup will be the big highlight at the Dublin Racing Festival today – where all eyes will be on three-time winner Galopin Des Champs.
He’ll be many people’s Irish Gold Cup tip in the race, being seven-from-eight over fences at Leopardstown.
However, those against ‘the Champ’ on Monday, which unfortunately isn’t on ITV Racing, might cling to a massive 94% stat against him – that runs back to 2008
Can Galopin Des Champs Overcome 94% Irish Gold Cup Age Stat?
Of course, Galopin Des Champs is a horse of a lifetime and win, lose or draw in the 2026 Irish Gold Cup – he’s already got legendary status.
But Galopin and his connections will be wanting to cement his name long in the history books with another win in the famous Leopardstown race on Monday.
He’s won the last three and will be looking to join Florida Pearl, who was also trained by Willie Mullins, on four wins.
But the difference would be that Galopin Des Champs is looking to win four on the bounce.
Whereas Florida Pearl’s wins came between 1999 and 2004.
There won’t be a bigger roar in Ireland this season if Galopin can pull off a famous fourth win – and commentator Jerry Hannon might have to find a replacement to call home the 4:05pm if he does.
Just One Irish Gold Cup Winner Aged 10+ Since 2008
However, if he is to achieve the four-timer Galopin will need to become only the SECOND winner aged in double-figures since 2008.
That’s a run of 18 races, when we’ve only seen ONE Irish Gold Cup winner aged 10+.
This was Carlingford Lough in 2016, who was guided home by jockey Mark Walsh at the age of 10.
Prior to that, you have to go back to Beef Or Salmon in 2006 and 2007 – winning these two renewals aged 10 and 11.
Since 2021 (last five runnings), 10 horses aged 10+ have run in the Irish Gold Cup.
With NINE unplaced and only The Storyteller in 2021 running second aged 10.
So, will the hands of time catch up with Galopin Des Champs, or can the three-time winner kick this Irish Gold Cup trend into touch?
There will be many people in both camps as they ponder their Leopardstown horse racing tips.
Irish Gold Cup Ages Since 2021
- 2025 – Double-Figure Aged Runners – 2 (both unplaced)
- 2024 – Double-Figure Aged Runners – 1 (unplaced)
- 2023 – Double-Figure Aged Runners – 3 (all unplaced)
- 2022 – Double-Figure Aged Runners – 3 (all unplaced)
- 2021 – Double-Figure Aged Runners – 1 (second)
WATCH: Galopin Des Champs Winning The 2025 Irish Gold Cup
Irish Gold Cup Race Details 2026
📅Date: Monday 2nd Feb 2026
⌚Time: 3:30pm
🏇Racecourse: Leopardstown
🔄Trip: 3m 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: €140,000
📺 TV: RTE2
Willie Mullins Has Won The Irish Gold Cup 14 Times
Trainer Willie Mullins, who looks after Galopin Des Champs, has of course won the last three Irish Gold Cups.
But he’s also won this Leopardstown race 14 times in this career. More than any other handler.
With the first coming in 1999 with the already mentioned four time winner Florida Pearl (watch below).
Willie Mullins Irish Gold Cup Winners
- Florida Pearl (1999,2000,2001,2004)
- Alexander Banquet (2002)
- Rule Supreme (2005)
- Kempes (2011)
- Quel Esprit (2012)
- Sir Des Champs (2013)
- Bellshill (2019)
- Kemboy (2021)
- Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024, 2025)
WATCH: Florida Pearl Winning The 1999 Irish Gold Cup
Irish Gold Cup Trends and Stats 📈
- 23/23 – Run at Leopardstown over fences before
- 22/23 – Last ran was 6 weeks or less
- 20/23 – Won over at least 3m before in their career (any code)
- 19/23– Aged 9 or younger
- 19/23 – Had won a Grade 1 Chase before
- 17/23 – Raced in the Savills Chase (Leopardstown) last time out
- 17/23 – Favourites placed
- 17/23 – From the top 3 in the betting
- 17/23– Winners that went onto run in that season’s Gold Cup (3 winners, Galopin Des Champs 2023, 2024, Sizing John 2017)
- 16/23 – Won between 3-5 times over fences (rules) before
- 15/23 – Won over fences at Leopardstown before
- 15/23 – Rated 160 or higher
- 15/23 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
- 14/23 – Irish-bred
- 13/23 – Winning distance – 3 lengths or more
- 10/23 – Trained by Willie Mullins (14 wins in total)
- 10/23 – Won last time out
- 9/23 – Favourites
- 5/23 – Won by a previous winner of the race
Irish Gold Cup Runners and Betting Odds
- Galopin Des Champs 13/8
- Gaelic Warrior 4/1
- Fact To File 6/1
- Spindleberry 15/2
- Affordable Fury 9/1
- I Am Maximus 10/1
- Inothewayurthinkin 18/1
- Grangeclere West 25/1
- Lecky Watson 33/1
- Monty’s Star 40/1
- Firefox 50/1
- Champ Kiely 80/1
Note: Irish Gold Cup betting odds listed at subject to change
Recent Irish Gold Cup Winners
- 2025 – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/2 fav)
- 2024 – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/3 fav)
- 2023 – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (30/100 fav)
- 2022 – CONFLATED (18/1)
- 2021 – KEMBOY (11/4)
- 2020 – DELTA WORK (5/2)
- 2019 – BELLSHILL (2/1)
- 2018 – EDWULF (33/1)
- 2017 – SIZING JOHN (100/30)
- 2016 – CARLINGFORD LOUGH (20/1)
