Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Robbie Power has singled out Galopin Des Champs as the most likely winner of this year’s Festival Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins’ charge is 6/4 antepost market favourite to win the Grade One contest and Power told our Leon Blanche that his win at Leopardstown puts Galopin Des Champs in pole position. Have a watch, below!
He said: “Galopin Des Champs’ performance at Leopardstown at Christmas blew me away. It was spectacular to watch him jumping down the back straight for his first time over fences.
"He beat decent horses, not very good horses, but it was a nice performance and you couldn’t be anything but impressed with it.
“If they all show up here this race could be one of the best races of the Cheltenham Festival with Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame, who has been brilliant on all his starts this season over fences for Paul Nicholls. I don’t think we saw the best of Ahoy Senor at Kempton either. I think he is better than that performance and he was very good at Newbury before that.
“You can throw the likes of Grade One winner Beacon Edge into the mix who is great each way value at 14/1. He was very near the top three over hurdles and was beaten on his debut over fences.
"He jumped an awful lot better when he won the Drinmore. He will definitely improve over 3 miles but whether he is as good as Galopin Des Champs or Bravemansgame I don’t know.
“It will be interesting to see if Galopin Des Champs goes for this route. I know he won over 3 miles at Punchestown last year and 2½ miles at Cheltenham at the Festival. The way he jumped and travelled over 2m5f at Leopardstown at Christmas, you might be reluctant to go up in trip with him to 3 miles.
"I’d imagine he will run in the Doctor PJ Moriarty at the Dublin Racing Festival and then a decision will be made. If he does go for the Festival Novices’ Chase then he is the one to beat.”
Robbie Power’s Festival Novices’ Chase Picks:
6/4 - Galopin Des Champs
14/1 - Beacon Edge (E/W)
*Prices correct at time of publication
Bet on Cheltenham, HERE.
Willie Mullins’ charge is 6/4 antepost market favourite to win the Grade One contest and Power told our Leon Blanche that his win at Leopardstown puts Galopin Des Champs in pole position. Have a watch, below!
? Will it be Galopin Des Champs or Bravemansgame who wins the Festival Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham?
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) January 18, 2022""
? Take a look at what @Robbie_Power_ predicts. Here's his tips, chatting to @BoyleSportsLB ?
Bet ? https://t.co/XgWCmTlJlS#CheltenhamFestival #Cheltenham2022 #Racing pic.twitter.com/QqHcojKwot
He said: “Galopin Des Champs’ performance at Leopardstown at Christmas blew me away. It was spectacular to watch him jumping down the back straight for his first time over fences.
"He beat decent horses, not very good horses, but it was a nice performance and you couldn’t be anything but impressed with it.
“If they all show up here this race could be one of the best races of the Cheltenham Festival with Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame, who has been brilliant on all his starts this season over fences for Paul Nicholls. I don’t think we saw the best of Ahoy Senor at Kempton either. I think he is better than that performance and he was very good at Newbury before that.
“You can throw the likes of Grade One winner Beacon Edge into the mix who is great each way value at 14/1. He was very near the top three over hurdles and was beaten on his debut over fences.
"He jumped an awful lot better when he won the Drinmore. He will definitely improve over 3 miles but whether he is as good as Galopin Des Champs or Bravemansgame I don’t know.
“It will be interesting to see if Galopin Des Champs goes for this route. I know he won over 3 miles at Punchestown last year and 2½ miles at Cheltenham at the Festival. The way he jumped and travelled over 2m5f at Leopardstown at Christmas, you might be reluctant to go up in trip with him to 3 miles.
"I’d imagine he will run in the Doctor PJ Moriarty at the Dublin Racing Festival and then a decision will be made. If he does go for the Festival Novices’ Chase then he is the one to beat.”
Robbie Power’s Festival Novices’ Chase Picks:
6/4 - Galopin Des Champs
14/1 - Beacon Edge (E/W)
*Prices correct at time of publication
Bet on Cheltenham, HERE.