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Galopin Des Champs. Alamy Stock Photo

Galopin Des Champs heads Gold Cup entries with record-low British contenders

Domestic challenge thin on the ground numerically for the blue riband at Cheltenham in March.

HAT-TRICK CHASING Galopin Des Champs heads 19 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, with just a record-low five British contenders for Marchโ€™s blue riband event.

Willie Mullinsโ€™ nine-year-old has been imperious in winning the Gold Cup for the past two years and after routing his rivals at Leopardstown over Christmas, is a short-priced favourite to replicate the great Best Mate and land three straight Gold Cups.

His chief market rival appears to be stablemate Fact To File, who lowered Galopin Des Champs colours in the John Durkan before seeing the tables turned in the Savills Chase.

He is, however, also among the leading contenders for the shorter Ryanair Chase after 34 put their name in the mix for that particular contest on Tuesday morning.

King George one-two Banbridge and Il Est Francais both feature in the Gold Cup entries, while at the same time also holding tickets for both the Ryanair and Champion Chase, with Gordon Elliottโ€™s Gerri Colombe and Henry de Bromheadโ€™s Montyโ€™s Star are other notable names for Cheltenhamโ€™s main event.

The five tasked with upholding British pride are Dan Skeltonโ€™s returning Festival hero Grey Dawning, Venetia Williamsโ€™ pair of Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille and Lโ€™Homme Presse, King George fourth The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville) and Lucinda Russellโ€™s Ahoy Senor.

A surprise omission from the Gold Cup entries is Jimmy Manganโ€™s beaten King George favourite and John Durkan runner-up Spillaneโ€™s Tower, who has a sole entry in the Ryanair Chase.

The JP McManus-owned Jonbon heads the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after 26 were entered.

Amongst his potential rivals is a strong Closutton hand featuring two-time winner Energumene, last yearโ€™s Arkle champion Gaelic Warrior and the beaten favourite in the race 12 months ago in the shape of El Fabiolo.

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