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Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs heads 19 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, with Britain responsible for a record-low five contenders.
The blue riband event has gone to Ireland for the last six years, with Galopin Des Champs responsible for claiming the previous two prizes for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
The top-class nine-year-old chaser, who returned to near his very best to land the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, is as short as even money to land three straight Gold Cups for the first time since Best Mate did between 2002-2004.
Stablemate Fact To File got the better of Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown earlier this season and is next in the betting, despite finishing seven and a half lengths behind the imperious favourite in the Savills Chase when the pair met last time.
The JP McManus-owned King George VI Chase favourite Spillane's Tower was a notable absentee from the Cheltenham Gold Cup entry list, with the seven-year-old only holding an entry in the Ryanair Chase following Tuesday's confirmation stage. 34 horses were entered for the two-mile four-and-a-half furlong contest, with the aforementioned Fact To File also prominent in the market for the same connections.
King George winner Banbridge and gallant runner-up Il Est Francais both hold Gold Cup entries alongside the option of either the Ryanair or Champion Chase, while the Gordon Elliott-trained Gerri Colombe and
Last year's Turners' Novices' Chase winner, Grey Dawning is the shortest of the five British-trained contenders but is still a 33/1 shot after he was pulled up in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Betfair Chase hero Royale Pagaille is a 50/1 chance alongside stablemate L'Homme Presse, while The Real Whacker and Ahoy Senor also remain in contention for the home team.
26 horses were entered for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, with Jonbon topping the ante-post betting. Nicky Henderson's multiple Grade 1 winner, who is due to head to the Clarence House Chase for his next start, is yet to land the illustrious two-mile prize at the Cheltenham Festival in his career thus far.
Last season's sensational Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior is among the chief opposition despite being well-beaten on his recent reappearance, while stablemate Energumene will be bidding for a third success in the contest after making a successful return to action in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork. Last year's beaten favourite El Fabiolo also holds an entry for the powerful Closutton-based handler Willie Mullins
