Expert Analysis

A good quality and most memorable Savills Chase, in which Galopin des Champs repeated his win from 12 months before under a superb ride and ultimately in tremendous style. This effort does not quite match his very best (notably that win here last year by 23 lengths) but is still high-class, and with smart horses put in their place late in the day. The pace ebbed and flowed, decent enough until halfway then pretty pedestrian down the back straight, exploding into action again after 3 out and with 7 runners still with a chance between the last 2 before the winner’s turbo kicked in. His 55.84s for the final 4f on ground that was “good to soft” is equivalent to a 110.5% finishing speed.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (c170+ here, 178 previously) is a phenomenally good chaser under the right conditions and ultimately won handsomely for the second year running in this prestigious contest, all the better for his return run over what is now an inadequate distance of 20f. He made the running, at a decent enough pace until halfway but very much dictating early on the final circuit with the rival jockeys reluctant to take on such a street fighter a long way out. It meant he had to show some toe from after 3 out, which he did, closed on by the second, with most of the pack close behind, going to the final fence then storming clear when asked for everything after the last. He should be very difficult to beat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup again, a doughty stayer but one with speed as well as versatility regarding how he is ridden.

FACT TO FILE (c164 here, 169 previously) was far from discredited against a rival who is one of the best staying chasers of the modern era but ultimately seemed to run out of gas late on and may well not get further. He tracked the pace travelling comfortably, made a mistake at the ninth and had his effort delayed until between the last 2, getting to a length or 2 down but swept aside up the run-in. There are more good races in him under the right circumstances.

GENTLEMANSGAME (c160 here, 165 previously) ran creditably after another break, not quite up to beating the best when they give their running. He raced prominently, screwed at a few obstacles but was still bang there between the last 2 before one paced.

HEART WOOD (c158 here, 154 previously) was probably helped by the relative test of speed this became and improved a bit, not entirely unexpectedly, going strongly in mid-field and improving between the last 2 before his effort petered out late on.

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (c158 here and previously) shaped quite well and repeated his previous best form in any case, held up in touch, awkward at the 10th but still going well 2 out, one paced from approaching the last. There may be better still to come from him at this trip or further.

GRANGECLARE WEST (c151 here, 155 previously) ran respectably, possibly still lacking peak fitness, travelling comfortably in mid-field but just beginning to feel the pinch when short of room approaching the last.

CONFLATED (c147 here, ? previously) won this in 2022 but isn’t as good now and was dropped after a mistake 3 out.

MINELLA COCOONER (c137 here, 155 previously) shaped better than the bare result in being held up but in touch until after 2 out, weakening thereafter. He has prospects back in slightly less exalted company.

I AM MAXIMUS (c0 here, 164 previously) ran no sort of race, jumping to his left and in trouble before halfway.