Galopin Des Champs, two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup champion, is out for the 2026 season due to a fitness issue.

Galopin Des Champs, the two-time defending Cheltenham Gold Cup champion, has been ruled out for the rest of the 2026 season due to a fitness issue. Trainer Willie Mullins announced the decision after the 10-year-old gelding showed signs of not being himself following a strong workout. The horse, owned by Audrey Turley, had finished third in both of his 2026 starts—the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup—before being pulled from contention. He will miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup and other spring races, ending his bid for a historic three-peat. No details on the nature of the issue were provided, but the decision reflects a cautious approach to his long-term health.