Willie Mullins has confirmed that Galopin Des Champs has run his last race.

Winner of two Cheltenham Gold Cups, the 10-year-old was a bit below his best on two Leopardstown outings last season, finishing third in both the Savills Chase at Christmas and the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup in early February.

However, he was still a leading contender for the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup until he was withdrawn from the race six days in advance following a "training setback".

At that time David Casey, assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, said: "I'm sure his owners, the Turleys, will get a lot more enjoyment out of him at home in his retirement."

On Thursday Mullins confirmed that the gelding has not returned to training.

Background

Bred in France, Galopin Des Champs is by the little-known sire Timos.

He made a winning debut as a three-year-old hurdler in France before being bought privately by Mullins on behalf of Audrey Turley.

As a five-year-old he won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and followed that up with his first Grade 1 win in a novice hurdle at Punchestown a month later.

Galopin Des Champs was sent novice chasing next season and made a huge impression on his fencing debut at the 2021 Christmas Festival. That was the first of six wins he recorded at Leopardstown - the other five being in Grade 1 company.

Hot favourite for the Golden Miller Novices' Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, he fell at the final fence, handing victory to Bob Olinger. He made amends at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, winning the BoyleSports Gold Cup.

He began the next season with a win in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase before adding the 2023 Irish Gold Cup and Cheltenham Gold Cup to his record. However, he was beaten in the Punchestown Gold Cup by 20/1 shot Fastorslow.

That rival again got the better of Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, but a month later he won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown by an impressive 23 lengths, before going on to secure back-to-back Irish Gold Cup victories at Leopardstown in February 2024.

Galopin Des Champs won his second Cheltenham Gold Cup that year, starting odds-on favourite in a field of 11. He finished his season at Punchestown where, for a third time, he was beaten by Fastorslow.

In the 2024/'25 season Galopin Des Champs again secured victory in both the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown but he was comprehensively outpointed by Inothewayurthinkin in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

But for once Galopin Des Champs managed to end the season on a high by winning that elusive Punchestown Gold Cup by 22 lengths.

He was twice voted Horse Racing Ireland's Horse of the Year during his career.