Hat-trick-chasing Galopin Des Champs heads 19 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, with only a record-low 5 British contenders for March’s blue riband occasion.
Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old has been imperious in profitable the Gold Cup for the previous two years and after routing his rivals at Leopardstown over Christmas, is a short-priced favorite to duplicate the nice Finest Mate and land three straight Gold Cups.
His chief market rival seems to be stablemate Reality To File, who lowered Galopin Des Champs colors within the John Durkan earlier than seeing the tables turned within the Savills Chase.
He’s, nevertheless, additionally among the many main contenders for the shorter Ryanair Chase after 34 put their title within the combine for that exact contest on Tuesday morning.
King George one-two Banbridge and Il Est Francais each characteristic within the Gold Cup entries, whereas on the similar time additionally holding tickets for each the Ryanair and Champion Chase, with Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe and Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star are different notable names for Cheltenham’s predominant occasion.
The 5 tasked with upholding British satisfaction are Dan Skelton’s returning Competition hero Gray Dawning, Venetia Williams’ pair of Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse, King George fourth The Actual Whacker (Patrick Neville) and Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor.
A shock omission from the Gold Cup entries is Jimmy Mangan’s crushed King George favorite and John Durkan runner-up Spillane’s Tower, who has a sole entry within the Ryanair Chase.
The JP McManus-owned Jonbon heads the betting for the Queen Mom Champion Chase after 26 have been entered.
Amongst his potential rivals is a robust Closutton hand that includes two-time winner Energumene, final yr’s Arkle champion Gaelic Warrior and the crushed favorite within the race 12 months in the past within the form of El Fabiolo.
