THE Leopardstown home straight was paved with gold for Galopin Des Champs as his Irish Gold Cup victory on Saturday confirmed his place as the leading three-mile chaser ahead of chasing’s Blue Riband event at Cheltenham in March.

There were no flaws in the performance as the seven-year-old again displayed his newfound maturity, relaxing perfectly for Paul Townend from the outset before quickening sharply when asked by the champion jockey.

The early pace was not strong, making the three-mile contest more of a test of speed, rather than stamina, as Kemboy was allowed free reign in front.

The Galopin Des Champs (161+) of last season would no doubt have tugged his way to the lead under the circumstances, although the new model was happy to switch off for the second successive race and observe his stablemate from distance.

The final circuit was run in contrasting style to the other chases on the card as the Gold Cup field were the last to reach the final ditch (three out), three from home, trailing Dysart Dynamo by a massive 6.5secs and Final Orders by just 1.0secs.

However, from that point to the winning line it was all about the Gold Cup favourite who was simply streets ahead through the closing stages as he finished off his race in 63.3secs, to cover the final circuit quicker than Final Orders and narrow the gap to El Fabiolo.

For a moment turning into the home straight it looked as if victory was going to be hard fought, although once between Stattler (153) and Fury Road (153), the son of Timos knew exactly what was expected of him as he seized the gap and the lead.

Streaked clear

Then, after nimbly avoiding the slightly errant Fury Road at the final obstacle and following some persuasion from the saddle, he streaked clear to win by a widening eight lengths.

The clock confirmed the visual impression of the acceleration as the equally impressive El Fabiolo covered the closing sectional in 66.1secs and handicap winner Final Orders stopped the clock at 66.0secs for his finishing split.

To add further credibility to the finishing effort, both Stattler and Fury Road were also quicker than the other chase winners, as they covered the ground from the third last fence in 65.2secs and 65.3secs respectively.

The weights and measures students will point to the fact Fury Road was only beaten a further two and a half lengths compared to when third to Conflated at Christmas.

However, Gordon Elliott’s Savills Chase winner held a significant track advantage over his stablemate while Galopin Des Champs gave the Gigginstown Stud-owned runner a start on Saturday.

Arkle pace

In contrast to the Gold Cup, the Irish Arkle was run at a searching pace as Dysart Dynamo (155), who doesn’t appear to have a gear between slow and flat-out, attempted to put his rivals to the sword from flag fall.

Surprisingly, El Fabiolo (166) was still fierce in his jockey’s hands through the formative stages of the race, only consenting to settle as the runners became well spread out in the back straight.

As the field left the ground at the final ditch, the contenders for first prize were whittled down to three as, along with the eventual winner, Appreciate It also stayed in touch with the runaway leader.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding was a looming presence on the home bend and, with Daryl Jacob exuding confidence, his partner was allowed the luxury of popping the final fence before using the loose horse as a guide to the winning line and the subsequent 10-length victory.

As with Galopin Des Champs, the perspective of the six-year-old’s finishing sectional of 66.1ecs makes for good reading when viewed from within his own race as Appreciate It (155), who was similarly positioned at the start of the sectional, covered the ground in 67.8secs and Dysart Dynamo finished off his race in 69.0secs.

Banbridge (155), after not being able to go the gallop from late in the back straight, completed his sectional in 66.5secs as he improved slightly on the time figure he posted when winning at Cheltenham. The good ground is essential to Joseph O’Brien’s gelding, who would look a more likely type for the Turners’ Chase at the Festival on this showing.

To complete the analysis over fences, Final Orders (130) made it back-to-back wins at the Dublin track despite not performing to the same level as at Christmas.

Jockey Keith Donoghue appeared to have matters under control from the second last, before ploughing a lone furrow down the middle of the track.

A route which may have enhanced the winning margin rather than being a consequence of the manoeuvre, as the challengers gravitated to the far rail where Fury Road finished off his race in the Gold Cup.

The future fortunes of Barnacullia (126), A Wave Of The Sea (126) and Jody Ted (124) will determine whether it was a disadvantage, although it was noticeable how the chase winners finished off their race towards the stands’ side rail.