Galopin Des Champs named Horse of the Year
Paul Cheltenham Townend Picture: Chase Harry Win Up, To Galopin Boodles At Murphy/sportsfile Cross The Des Cheltenham Champs, Cup Hoty: The Line With Gold
Galopin Des Champs was named Horse of the Year at the Horse Racing Ireland awards night on Monday. The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old defended his Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham, with Paul Townend on board, becoming just the ninth horse to win the race on multiple occasions. He also won the Savills Chase and Paddy Power Gold Cup, both Leopardstown Grade 1s, prior to showing his quality in the Cotswolds. City Of Troy, Kyprios, Porta Fortuna, State Man, and Teahupoo were the others nominated for the award.
After a year which saw him become Champion trainer at home for the 18th time, the first Irish-based trainer to win the British title since Vincent O'Brien in 1954, and break the 100-winner mark at Cheltenham, Mullins claimed the National Hunt Award. Along with Galopin Des Champs, Mullins won the Champion Hurdle with State Man, the Aintree Grand National with I Am Maximus, the Scottish Grand National with Macdermott and the Sandown Gold Cup with Minella Crooner.
Tom Gibney, who trained Intense Raffles to victory in the Irish Grand National, took the National Hunt Achievement Award. The horse was unbeaten in three starts last season. Gerry Keane, trainer of Crystal Black who went unbeaten in five starts last season, claimed the flat equivalent. Crystal Black won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Xin Gin Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Aidan O'Brien, Irish champion trainer for the 27th time and British champion trainer for the seventh time, took the Flat Award. O'Brien won the Epsom Derby for the tenth time, City Of Troy obliging this time, while Kyprios went the season unbeaten, winning seven races.
Jockey James Ryan won the Emerging Talent Award after a season which saw the champion apprentice notch up 33 winners including a first Group race winner with Ostraka at Dundalk. The point-to-point award went to David Christie, winner of 19 races last season. After public votes, Fairyhouse was named Racecourse of the Year while JJ Slevin won Ride of the Year for Nurburgring in the Galway Hurdle.
The Aga Khan - owner of Shergar, Harzad and this year's Oaks winner Ezeliya among many others - was the recipient of the Contribution to the Industry Award.
“With these awards, we celebrate something more profound than achievements and investments," said HRI chairman Nick Hartery.
"His Highness the Aga Khan is not just a valued partner of the Irish racing community; he is one of us. We feel that he is part of the very fabric of our industry, and we have claimed him as one of our own.
“We are forever grateful for all His Highness has done for Irish horse racing. His vision, dedication, and generosity has enriched our sport and strengthened our community in ways that will endure for generations.”
Contribution to the Industry: His Highness the Aga Khan; Horse of the Year: Galopin Des Champs; Emerging Talent Award: James Ryan; National Hunt Award: Willie Mullins; National Hunt Achievement Award: Tom Gibney; Point-to-Point Award: David Christie; Flat Award: Aidan O'Brien; Flat Achievement Award: Gerry Keane; Racecourse of the Year: Fairyhouse; Ride of the Year Award: JJ Slevin