Galopin Des Champs achieved star status with his brilliant win in the Gold Cup at Chetenham and can sign off for the season with another Grade One success at Punchestown.
The Timos gelding had looked something special as a novice last year and confirmed that with a stunning display at Prestbury Park last month.
Paul Townend admitted afterwards that he was further back than intended on the favourite in the Blue Riband contest but his mount made up ground smoothly before jumping to the front at the last.
The way he powered clear up the hill really stamped his authority over his rivals and it’s hard to see him getting turned over now bar a mishap.
That famous fall in the Turners Chase at Cheltenham last year is his only defeat over fences and in all the other races nothing has really been able to lay a glove on him.
Bravemansgame chased Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup and renews rivalry now after his ownership issues were sorted out the other day.
He ran a cracker to fill the runner-up position last time but it would be a surprise if he could turn the tables.
Envoi Allen is another high-class performer who commands respect and could be the one to chase home the hotpot.
He bounced back to winning ways in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and it was a good performance to beat Shishkin then.
The runner-up has gone on to frank that form in good style at Aintree. Envoi Allen should have no problem going back up in trip now having won over three miles at Down Royal earlier in the campaign.
It’s hard to get away from Willie Mullins in the top level events at this festival, where he has totally dominated in recent years.
Gaelic Warrior looks another obvious one in the preceding novice hurdle over the extended two-miles-seven.
The Maxios gelding was no match for impressive stablemate Impaire Et Passe in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but it was still a solid effort to finish runner-up.
With an official rating of 152 he is comfortably the best of today’s field on the book and the only question mark for him would be the step up to this trip.
He was strong at the line last time though, over two-miles-five.
It’s interesting to see Patrick Mullins siding with Tullyhill in the Grade One bumper and he may be a bit of value in that race to beat Cheltenham winner A Dream To Share.
There was plenty of buzz about the Martaline gelding before his racecourse debut at Gowran last month and he ran out a very impressive winner.
Mullins senior spoke very highly of him afterwards and revealed that he had been considered a Cheltenham prospect but just didn’t come right in time.
The grey didn’t come off the bridle to beat Will Do in Gowran and that horse actually went on to frank the form subsequently.
Given the way the champion trainer spoke about him after his win the impression is that he could be very good.
A Dream To Share is obviously the one to beat on the book having run out a good winner at Cheltenham last time. He had a few of these rivals in behind that day and should confirm form.
GARY CARSON SELECTIONS
3.40 La Malmason
4.15 Sandor Clegane
4.45 Imagine
5.20 Gaelic Warrior (Dbl)
5.55 Galopin Des Champs
6.30 Tullyhill (Nap)
7.05 Ha D’Or
7.45 Fun Fun Fun
