Paul Townend is a master of understatement, but on this occasion, his eyes and radiant smile revealed his true feelings.
'That was good, wasn't it?' asked Ireland's leading rider, as he returned to the winners' enclosure here in Leopardstown. He would soon be hit by a wall of sound from the crowd, who stood in rows of 10 people trying to catch a glimpse of Galopin Des Champs.
This was better than good. Christmas has been wonderful for racing, thanks to the exploits of Constitution Hill, Sir Gino and Townend's King George winner Banbridge, but this was a new peak, a stunning and brutal display of precision galloping and jumping.
Such was the quality of Galopin Des Champs' display in the Grade One Savills Chase that his trainer Willie Mullins felt compelled to label it the best display in a body of work which, don't forget, includes the last two Cup renewals Cheltenham Gold Medal. .
Mullins speaks softly and is not one to say something to get a cheap headline. He also wouldn't necessarily be one to publicly show his emotions, but as the applause continued you could see how much this all meant to him.
“Even I was like, 'wow,' something I don't really do a lot,” Mullins said. 'It was fantastic, especially knowing the caliber of horse that was behind him.
Galopin Des Champs took an eye-catching victory at Leopardstown on Saturday
Trainer Willie Mullins (left) said the win was “huge” and described the gelding as a saint.
It's another victory for jockey Paul Townend, just 48 hours after his victory aboard Banbridge.
'That was huge. You couldn't have planned the race better for Fact To File, as he had a lead the entire way. But Galopin simply left him behind. He stepped over the last one and just ran away. For me he was always the one. I was never going to abandon him. He's the real deal, right?
He has a charming temperament; It has size and scope. It has everything you want. He is a saint.
A saint who breaks the hearts of those who try to keep up with him. As soon as the white flag was raised at 2:36 p.m., Galopin began galloping, clocking 50 km/h at each point and metronomically measuring the obstacles in front of him.
Waiting in the wings, anchored in fourth place, was Fact To File, whom Mullins also saddled. That seven-year-old had beaten Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown five weeks ago, over two and a half miles in the John Durkan Chase and many expected him to repeat the trick.
Fact To File, dressed in the green and gold silks of JP McManus, is very talented and won at the Cheltenham Festival last March, but his stablemate is a different proposition over three miles at Leopardstown, on the outskirts of Dublin, and how presented.
Every time Townend increased the pace slightly, his rivals behind began to move their arms to try to stay in the hunt. Finally, as the race reached the final three furlongs, Galopin Des Champs' afterburners activated as the lungs of his pursuers began to burn.
Take I Am Maximus, the current winner of the Randox Grand National: he was stopped well before the end of business, surprised by the pace. Similarly, the talented horses Grangeclare West, Conflated and Minella Cocooner never entered the race. Galopin Des Champs had been backed by the 5-6 favorite and once Townend, a Formula One enthusiast, hit the ground at the home turn, the roof was raised by a visceral noise only heard when a large crowd He knows it's a bet. to be landed.
Fact To File jockey Mark Walsh lamented that his partner had been too exuberant too early, but the simple fact was that he faced an impossible task. Galopin Des Champs is one of the greats of the modern era and this was his zenith.
“I would have been surprised if he had been beaten,” said Townend, who was enjoying another big win just 48 hours after his victory aboard Banbridge in the King George VI Chase.
'His work at home had been brilliant. Fact To File is a fair machine, but it would have taken something incredible to beat our guy.
“He's a terrier, he put his head down and showed his will to win in the straight.” There aren't many as good as him, right?
The schedule now for Galopin Des Champs, who finished seven and a half lengths from the field, is to return to Leopardstown in February for the Irish Gold Cup before heading to Cheltenham in March to attempt a Gold hat-trick. Cup wins , for which the betting houses place him as a favorite.
If the eight-year-old were successful he would place himself in the realms of Arkle and Best Mate, the last horse to conquer Cheltenham three years in a row.
No wonder Mullins and Townend appreciate him so much.