Gold Cup candidate Galopin Des Champs will be the focus of attention when he makes his seasonal debut in today’s rescheduled John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1) in Punchestown.
And Galopin Des Champs, winner of the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham and the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) at Punchestown as a novice hurdler, before making a huge impact as a novice chaser last term, should justify odds-on favouritism and take his first step towards Prestbury Park in March.
Winner of three of his four starts over fences, including the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown and the Boylesports Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, Galopin Des Champs is an exuberant jumper and looked a natural over the biggest obstacles from day one.
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The only blemish on his chasing record came at Cheltenham, when, having dominated the Turners, he had the classy Bob Olinger struggling early and well beaten when overjumping at the final fence, slipping and coming to grief, leaving Bob Olinger to triumph.
On ratings, the Closutton six-year-old, has 7lb to spare over chief rival Fakir D’oudairies, a battle-hardened performer and a four-time Grade 1 winner as a chaser, including back to back renewals of the Marsh Chase in Aintree.
Although he’s probably at his best in the spring, Fakir is a formidable opponent. But Galopin Des Champs is a confident choice.
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