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Galopin Des Champs is the red-hot favourite in Paddy Power’s Gold Cup betting at this year’s Cheltenham Festival – and Ruby Walsh is confident Willie Mullins’ star gelding will get the trip.
An eight-length defeat of Stattler in last weekend’s Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup confirmed his status as the most exciting chaser in training, but it was just the second time in his career that he had run over three miles.
While the Leopardstown victory went some way to silencing some critics of his staying power, the Gold Cup is even longer in distance at a further two-and-half furlongs.
Speaking on the latest episode of our Cheltenham Countdown podcast, Paddy’s resident expert Ruby reckons the way Galopin Des Champs went through the line in the Irish equivalent is an encouraging hint.
Ruby Walsh:
“To me as a jockey you’ll often be looking for hints and again can either of us or you no-one can guarantee anybody he’s going to get three and a quarter.
“In my opinion he most likely will, I believe he will.
“I thought the way he hit the line and the way he went through the line wasn’t like a tired horse, but to me the race wasn’t run frantically early, but it built from a long way out – Fury Road got involved, when you start to up the ante a long way from home, you make it a stamina contest.
“I liked the way he finished and I liked the way he went through the line and I think he’ll get three and a quarter.”
Cheltenham Tips
- Matt Chapman’s early Cheltenham tips fancies in the non runner money back markets
- Ruby Walsh’s Arkle Chase tips include a 7/1 shout
- Rory Delargy’s Arkle Chase tips include a 20/1 shout
Read More on the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
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- When is the Champion Chase? All the info on runners, betting and start times
- When is the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle? All the info on runners, betting and start times
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