Savills Chase 2025 Preview – Runners Guide as Galopin Des Champs Bids for Leopardstown Hat-Trick

Tackling an extended three miles for the Grade 1 Savills Chase of 2025 at Leopardstown on Sunday, 28 December are Gold Cup winners Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin. Both have an official rating of 176 after they fought out the finish of the blue riband of steeplechases in March. This is the rematch over a course and distance which Willie Mullins’ stable star has excelled.

Galopin Des Champs is undefeated in seven chase starts around Leopardstown. Five of those have been Grade 1s including the two previous editions of the Christmas Festival feature and three Irish Gold Cups. Seemingly unbeatable on the southside of Dublin, he now bids for an unprecedented hat-trick on his belated reappearance. Not even Beef Or Salmon managed three in a row in this.

A slight setback in training meant Galopin Des Champs missed his usual return to action in the John Durkan at Punchestown. Inothewayurthinkin found that two-and-a-half miles test far too sharp for his liking, however, and never got anywhere near on terms. He finished fifth, beaten over 50 lengths, and behind the long absent re-opposing third Fastorslow and Heart Wood.

The front two went to Kempton for the King George on Boxing Day, so there’s no worries about Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File. Gavin Cromwell’s charge is much happier at Cheltenham where he’s two from two over the Gold Cup course and distance. Even stepping up to the Savills Chase trip may be too sharp for Inothewayurthinkin.

That’s because his only career wins over fences so far have been at a minimum of three miles and a furlong. He does have a race fitness edge over Galopin Des Champs here, however. Inothewayurthinkin has fared no better than fourth in three previous visits to Leopardstown. He wants the Cheltenham hill.

Five Mullins Mounts, Three for Cullentra House

Galopin Des Champs isn’t the only iron in the Savills Chase fire for mob-handed Mullins, however. There are four stable companions in a 12-runner field. Joining the dual winner in the line-up are Champ Kiely, Grangeclare West, I Am Maximus and Lecky Watson. Three of those are of an age with Galopin Des Champs.

Champ Kiely hasn’t had anything like the racing that the Leopardstown specialist has, however. He steps up in trip after running over way too short uphill at Naas on reappearance. Grangeclare West caught the eye in-behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup during the Dublin Racing Festival here in February.

Like other JP McManus runner I Am Maximus, however, he wants the Grand National marathon trip after placing in the big one at Aintree. Lecky Watson, meanwhile, was one of the John Durkan Chase also rans, so can only find the longer distance of the Savills Chase a help.

Ireland’s other major National Hunt stable belongs to Gordon Elliott and he runs three against the Mullins mounts. None of the Cullentra House trio are anything like as fancied here by the Cheltenham bookies for different reasons. Gerri Colombe has been off the track for more than a year, while Gigginstown duo Croke Park and Stellar Story only have marks in the low 150s.

Martin Brassil brings Punchestown specialist Fastorslow to the party. Noel Meade runs Down Royal Champion Chase second Affordale Fury, while Henry De Bromhead inmate Monty’s Star completes the line-up. Discover more about each of the dozen horses going for this festive feature steeplechase below.

Savills Chase 2025 Runners Guide

1. Affordale Fury

Not disgraced when runner-up in both the Gowran Park and Down Royal Champion Chases this autumn. Cashed in on an ease in grade when landing a Listed race around Thurles latest. Repeat of penultimate start enough to suggest he can claim minor honours here.

2. Champ Kiely

The Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase goes to @WillieMullinsNH with Champ Kiely beating stablemate Ballyburn, after a fluent round of jumping throughout under @dan2231🥇 pic.twitter.com/2gJBqa3jaY

— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) April 29, 2025

Very lightly-raced for his age and landed Grade 1 over this trip at the Punchestown Festival in the spring. Had the measure of Stellar Story on that occasion. Previous third in the Fairyhouse Gold Cup reads well, but this longer trip is what he wants. Ran a blinder when runner-up over way too sharp a distance at Naas on reappearance. One of the Savills Chase 2025 runners with an each-way shout.

3. Croke Park

Won the old Fort Leney over course and distance at this meeting last season when landing a Grade 1 double. Form tailed off since, however. Only Galopin Des Champs and Grangeclare West are fellow Leopardstown scorers in the line-up. Has most to find on official ratings.

4. Fastorslow

Talented but not the easiest to train. Best of the rest in the John Durkan behind Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File on reappearance. Fine effort after a whole year off the track. Needs to make up for lost time, but no better than second in four starts here. Stepping back up in trip for the Savills Chase of 2025 will help him, though, and he should come on for the run.

5. Galopin Des Champs

The undisputed king of Leopardstown. Has a glittering CV including five Grade 1 wins over course and distance. A seven-time Gold Cup winner (twice at Cheltenham races, three here, one from Fairyhouse and even the most recent Punchestown equivalent). Has been unbeatable here, but can need his first run of the season. Still the one to beat with that phenomenal track record.

6. Gerri Colombe

Off the track since Down Royal last season. Twice beaten by Galopin Des Champs, including comprehensively in the Savills Chase two years ago. Will need the run after such a long absence, but stable jockey rides him from three representing the yard.

7. Grangeclare West

Course and distance winner at this meeting two years ago. Runner-up in the Irish Gold Cup and third in the Grand National last season. Tailed off eighth in the John Durkan behind Fastorslow, Inothewayurthinkin and Lecky Watson on reappearance. Trip wasn’t much good to him. Can’t be entirely ruled out on track record.

8. I Am Maximus

First and second in the last two editions of the Grand National at Aintree. No win in six Leopardstown starts and no match for Galopin Des Champs in four course and distance runs. Clearly wants further than the Savills Chase trip. No reason to think he’ll improve much on his reappearance John Durkan ninth.

9. Inothewayurthinkin

Fifth in this race 12 months ago, fourth in the Irish Gold Cup before turning things around with Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham result in March. One of several never put in the race when fifth in the John Durkan over an inadequate distance on reappearance. No surprise if he improves for going back up in trip, but will need to make his fitness edge count now.

10. Lecky Watson

Beat Stellar Story by four lengths when a Cheltenham Festival winner at 22/1 in the spring. Early faller in the Punchestown Champion Novice Chase won by Champ Kiely. Disappointing seventh in the John Durkan on reappearance. Stepping back up in distance for the Savills Chase should help, but it also benefits others.

11. Monty’s Star

Distant third to Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup and couldn’t carry topweight when down the field in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on reappearance. Not disgraced when fifth in the Irish Gold Cup and fourth in Cheltenham equivalent, but no reason why he should reverse form with the market principals.

12. Stellar Story

Runner-up to Lecky Watson at Cheltenham, then thirds to Champ Kiley around Punchestown and Haydock’s Betfair Chase on reappearance. Still not fully exposed after just six starts over fences, but shapes like he might be a marathon handicapper that his stable specialises in.

Savills Chase 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

Despite lacking a recent run, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is the king around here. He hasn’t always needed his first run and a slice of history beckons. There’s doubts about the suitability of this course and distance for Inothewayurthinkin; so, despite being the fitter horse, he might be one of many in the line-up who need even further. Fastorslow is the obvious best of the rest, but he’d prefer Punchestown or Cheltenham.

Stepping the likes of Champ Kiely and Lecky Watson up in trip can only help them from the other Mullins mounts. Grangeclare West ran well here in February, so he can’t be discounted either. It’s difficult to make much of a case for anything else, but Affordale Fury could get in amongst the market principals with a repeat of his Down Royal effort.

Jamie Clark

Senior sports editor

Jamie Clark has been covering the Cheltenham Festival for over a decade, firstly during his time as the Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers. His father and godfather ran a trackside bookie's pitch at Market Rasen for many years, so horse racing is in his blood. Very much a specialist in the sport, Jamie is our go-to expert on all things Cheltenham.

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