Why The Cheltenham Hill Is Galopin Des Champs Biggest Weakness

All that was on people's minds coming into the final day of the Cheltenham festival was one name and one name only, Audrey Turley’s Galopin Des Champs as he would attempt to win his third gold cup in a row, a feat only four horses in history have achieved.

Heading into the famous Gold Cup race at four o’clock, Des Champs was ½ favourite, destined to win his third Gold Cup in a row, rode by Paul Towned, and to give Willie Mullins his fifth winner out of five on the final day of Cheltenham. But it was J.P McManus who got his gold cup win after a sublime run by Inothewayurthinkin left Des Champs in the dust on the final stretch. 

But after a wonderfully run race, here’s why Inothewayurthinkin deserved to win the Gold Cup, and why the famous Galopin Des Champs didn't.

Des Champs was a clear fan favourite with thousands backing him to become the fifth horse in history to win three straight Gold Cups, but with barely a single fault or weakness, it was the Cheltenham hill which was the banker for Inothewayurthinkin to take it home.

It was clear throughout the last two years that Des Champs was one of the most complete horses the Cup has ever seen, but it wasn't obvious to many that his ability to run the Cheltenham hill was a clear weakness in his game. Des Champs won his last two Gold Cups outstandingly, running two flawless races there was no need for a full speed gallop on the final stretch, but what most didn't realise was both times he in fact was in a full gallop.

The famous Cheltenham hill is an obstacle many fail to overcome, but with a horse like Des Champs, there was bound to be one thing that could hold him back. His speed and jumping ability overshadowed his problems on the hill, but fans and experts somehow failed to see his struggles. But it was Inothewayurthinkin and Gavin Cromwell who spotted the fault in Des Champs' game at Cheltenham.

With Mark Walsh and Inothewayurthinkin running a spectacular race as the stayers throughout the course of the race, some bad jumps and faults by Des Champs allowed Walsh to breakthrough and take the gap on Townend and Des Champs before destroying the two time champion in a race to be remembered.

Along with some mistakes and Paul Townend saying Des Champs wasn't particularly up for the race from the start, Inothewayurthinkin was the right winner, and took Des Champs to levels he had never seen before. True three time champions like Arkle and Golden Miller truly had no faults, but it was the legendary Cheltenham Hill that was the enemy for Galopin Des Champs today.