Galopin Des Champs is set to face eight rivals in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner delivered a career-best effort to romp to a 23l victory in last year’s renewal, but he faces fresh foes looking to take the crown.
The principal rival is stablemate Fact To File, who is bidding to repeat his defeat of Galopin Des Champs in last month’s John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase as the pair step back up to a staying trip.
Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Grade 1 scorer Grangeclare West and last term’s bet365 Gold Cup winner Minella Cocooner complete the cracking Closutton battalion.
Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin is given another try at the highest level after failing to fire in John Durkan and fellow six-year-old Heart Wood, a course winner courtesy of a Dublin Racing Festival success earlier this year, steps up to the big leagues for Henry De Bromhead.
The Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame was not too far behind Galopin Des Champs in this year’s Punchestown Gold Cup and makes his first outing of the season.
Gordon Elliott relies on 2022 winner Conflated for Saturday’s 14:35.
The latest Savills Chase odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Savills Chase 2024 verdict
Timeform: FACT TO FILE wasted no time in announcing himself at chasing’s top table when lowering the colours of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs no less in the John Durkan at Punchestown last month and can confirm himself the leading chaser around by again proving too strong for his stablemate in a thrilling Savills Chase. Inothewayurthinkin and Conflated appeal as the pick of the rest in the battle for minor honours.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Savills Chase 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Savills Chase 2024.
Conflated
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: D. J. Gilligan Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Took this in 2022 but it’s now 12 runs since his last win and he came in only eighth of 9 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (29.2f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Stable in good form though so could bounce back.
***
Fact To File
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Top-class chaser who extended his winning run to four with sparkling reappeance victory in John Durkan Chase at Punchestown last month, showing speed to go with his stamina. Has a fair bit more to offer so leading claims.
*****
Galopin Des Champs
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Outstanding staying chaser who recorded his ninth Grade 1 success when winning his second Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Resumed with a good 2¾ lengths third of 8 to Fact To File in John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown and last year’s winner is a player once more.
****
Gentlemansgame
Trainer: M. F. Morris Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class chaser. Good 5 lengths fourth of 9 to Fastorslow in Punchestown Gold Cup at Punchestown (25f, good to soft, 40/1). Off 8 months. Cheekpieces back on and this course winner can’t be ruled out.
***
Grangeclare West
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. J. M. O’Sullivan Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Rapidly developed into smart chaser at this time last year, winning a Nass maiden before following up in a 3m Grade 1 novice at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. Off 11 months before pulled up in John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on his return. Worth another chance.
***
Heart Wood
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 6 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Very smart chaser. Respectable neck second of 5 to Croke Park in Drinmore Novices’ Chase (2/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, good) 27 days ago. Back up in trip. Stable having good spell. Uphill task here however.
**
I Am Maximus
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: J. S. McGarvey Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Top-class chaser who signed off last term with a career-best win in Grand National at Aintree, storming clear. Off 8 months and needs to hit the ground running back down in trip.
***
Inothewayurthinkin
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 6 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class chaser. Well-held seventh of 8 to Fact To File in John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Punchestown (19.7f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Back up in trip. Can take a step forward.
***
Minella Cocooner
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Very smart chaser. 24½ lengths fifth of 8 to Fact To File in John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Punchestown (19.7f, good to soft, 66/1) 34 days ago. Stable in good form but this is a difficult ask.
**
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