Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs has died after sustaining a fatal injury in a field just days after his retirement from racing.
The 10-year-old gelding suffered a severe injury to his near front leg, which veterinarians determined to be unrepairable, according to a statement from Ruby Walsh to Racing TV. Walsh discovered the injury during a routine morning check.
Galopin Des Champs, who won 12 Grade One races, achieved iconic status with his victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023 and 2024. He also secured three Irish Gold Cups at Leopardstown during his career. His final race was a third-place finish in the Irish Gold Cup in February. He had been retired by trainer Willie Mullins the previous week, with Mullins stating that the horse was retired because he could not perform at his previous level and that he hoped he would have a successful second career as a sport horse.
"He was a fabulous racehorse whose short time with us has left lots of broken hearts but none more so than those of Greg, Audrey and Sarah Turley and Adam Connolly who looked after him for so long," Walsh said in his statement. "He will be sadly missed."