Owner Audrey Turley offered an emotional farewell to Galopin Des Champs after the celebrated chaser’s retirement was officially confirmed on Thursday. The ten‑year‑old gelding, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, will be remembered as one of the most beloved National Hunt stars of the modern era. His résumé boasts twelve Grade One triumphs, highlighted by back‑to‑back victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023 and 2024 and a remarkable three‑peat in the Irish Gold Cup from 2023 through 2025. Galopin Des Champs’ final race came in February when he finished third while attempting a fourth Irish Gold Cup win.
That effort turned out to be his last appearance on the track, as a subsequent setback forced him out of a hoped‑for sixth run at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Over the course of his career he contested 26 starts, winning 15 of them, a record that underscores his consistency at the highest level.
Audrey Turley, who co‑owned the black gelding with her husband Greg, said she will forever cherish the moments they shared with the horse. "We've had the best time of our lives, we really have," she told the Press Association.
"We never thought this would happen to us. We've had the most wonderful time." When pressed about a single day that stood out above the rest, Turley found it difficult to choose.
"Three Irish Gold Cups and the two at Cheltenham, it's hard to pick out one. Every time it was just a wonderful surprise, it was just magnificent," she explained. She did, however, single out the first Cheltenham Gold Cup as a moment that felt "extraordinary – like something out of a dream, the joy it brought." The owner also recalled the electric atmosphere at Leopardstown when Galopin Des Champs secured his third Irish Gold Cup, describing how the crowd’s chant of "ole, ole, ole" sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The affection for the horse extends far beyond the racecourse.
Turley noted that fans continue to reach out on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, expressing how much they miss him. "People love him and we still have people coming up on Instagram and TikTok saying, 'we miss him, we miss him'. He was so well loved and deserved to be loved, he was just wonderful," she said.
Turley added that Galopin Des Champs has always been an unassuming character who seemed to genuinely enjoy the sport, a quality that endeared him to both connections and spectators alike. Looking ahead, Turley revealed that the gelding will embark on a second career in the equestrian world.
He has been transferred to the family of former champion jockey Ruby Walsh, where Walsh’s daughter Isabelle will assess his aptitude for a new discipline. "They're going to retrain him and see what happens.
If he likes it he can do it, if he doesn't we'll have another plan – it's all about him, whatever he wants to do," Turley explained. At 11 years old next year, Galopin Des Champs remains in excellent physical condition, giving his new caretakers optimism about his future prospects. Although the Turleys will no longer see Galopin Des Champs wearing their yellow and brown silks, they are already looking forward to the next generation of talent in their stable. One promising prospect is King Rasko Grey, who delivered another Cheltenham Festival win in the previous season’s Turners Novices' Hurdle.
"King Rasko Grey has just come back in from the summer and is looking fantastic, so we have high hopes for him," Turley said. "He did so well at Cheltenham, obviously, and he's looking like a good horse.
He has very big boots to fill, but we won’t have another Galopin – he’s one of a kind, a diamond. We'll enjoy it whatever happens." Galopin Des Champs’ retirement marks the end of an era for a horse that combined raw talent with a gentle temperament, captivating fans across the UK and Ireland. His legacy will live on not only in the record books but also in the countless memories of racegoers who witnessed his daring finishes and celebrated his victories.
As he transitions to a new chapter, the racing community wishes him health, happiness, and success in whatever arena he chooses next.