Gallopin Des Champs, who is aiming for a hat-trick, is at the front of 19 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, but only five Britons will take part in March’s Blue Ribbon event, a record low.
Willie Mullins’ 9-year-old has been challenging for a Gold Cup win for the past two years and after routing his rivals at Leopardstown on Christmas Day, he replicated his great best mate and won the Gold Cup for the third year in a row. It has become a favorite for short sellers to acquire.
His biggest market rival appears to be stablemate Fact to File, who lowered the colors of Gallopin des Champs in John Durcan before turning the tables in Savill’s Chase.
But he is also one of the leading candidates for the shorter Ryanair Chase, after 34 was named among the contenders for that particular contest on Tuesday morning.
King George’s One Two Banbridge and Ile Est Français are both in the Gold Cup entry, while also holding tickets for both Ryanair and Champion Chase, with Gordon Elliott’s Gerry Colombe and Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star are also notable players. Cheltenham main event.
The five tasked with defending British pride are Dan Skelton’s returning festival hero Gray Dawning, Benicia Williams’ pair of Betfair Chase winners Royal Pagaille and L’Homme Presse, King George 4 The Real Wacker (Patrick Neville), and Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor.
Surprisingly missing from the Gold Cup entries is John Durcan’s runner-up Spillanes Tower, the beaten King George favorite by Jimmy Mangan and the only entry in the Ryanair Chase.
After 26 horses were entered, JP McManus-owned Jonbon led the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Among his potential rivals are two-time winner Energumene, last year’s Arkle champion Gaelic Warrior and the mighty Crossatton Hand, whose favorite horse El Fabiolo lost in the race 12 months ago. There is.
