This has perhaps been a rather flat Cheltenham Festival but it is a huge positive that it will conclude with an excellent running of the Boodles Gold Cup.
Defending champion GALOPIN DES CHAMPS remains the outstanding candidate, yet he looks like he will face a stiffer examination than he did 12 months ago, when he beat Bravemansgame seven lengths.
The notion that last year’s race may have left its mark on the Willie Mullins-trained gelding was floated when he was beaten in his next two races.
But such scepticism quickly evaporated with his brilliant win at Leopardstown over Christmas, when he trounced a below-par Gerri Colombe, and a thoroughly professional defeat of Fastorslow back at the track in the Irish Gold Cup last month.
Fastorslow, who has twice finished a close second at the Festival, is still respected. He may prove the biggest danger again. And despite Gerri Colombe’s defeat at Christmas, he also has place prospects here. He perhaps should have won last year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (beaten a short head by The Real Whacker) and will appreciate the extra quarter mile of this race.
Galopin Des Champs goes for a famous Gold Cup double at Cheltenham on Friday
L’Homme Presse’s jumping is such an asset that he can play a part. The 2022 Brown Advisory winner was sidelined for more than a year but has run well in two races over shorter trips since he returned, and Venetia Williams has primed him for this challenge.
Of the longer-priced runners, the talented but fragile Monkfish looks the most interesting.
1…..GALOPIN DES CHAMPS EVS
2………………..FASTORSLOW 9/2
3………….L’HOMME PRESSE 10/1
Odds supplied by Paddy Power
Lizzie Kelly (Festival-winning jockey)
Peter Scudamore (eight-time champion jockey)
TIPSTERS
ROBIN GOODFELLOW – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (nap)
PETER SCUDAMORE – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
LIZZIE KELLY – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
CAPTAIN HEATH – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (nap)
GIMCRACK – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (nap)
