GOLDEN SHOT

Mullins is confident of a Galopin hat-trick

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GALOPIN Des Champs may be standing on the edge of greatness, but Willie Mullins is doing his best to keep his feet on the ground ahead of his star chaser's bid for a Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick today.

It is hard to believe it now, but for a long time the blue riband event eluded the master of Closutton.

Indeed, after saddling the runner-up on six occasions, one of National Hunt racing's greatest trainers must have thought he was destined never to win the sport's most prestigious race.

But the curse was broken in 2019 by Al Boum Photo, who successfully defended his title before finishing third in his treble attempt, and just a few years later he has now unearthed another horse who will get the chance to become only the fifth horse to win three Gold Cups.

"To be associated with a horse like this, who is so well known now, is a huge honour," said Mullins.