'He has to be backed for the Champion Chase at 5-1, doesn't he?' - Paul Kealy has a strong Cheltenham fancy after Christmas

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Gaelic Warrior has to be backed for the Champion Chase at 5-1, doesn't he?

It's not a left-handed thing, he just doesn't like Leopardstown. 

He made a meal of winning there off a gimme of a handicap hurdle mark in February 2023 and hasn't looked happy there in two chase defeats, the latest when going down to Solness last week.

Plenty of Willie Mullins' horses failed to run to form over the week, which isn't that unusual for him, and Gaelic Warrior was one.

I'd be happy to trust Mullins to have him back to his best when it matters at Cheltenham in March, and I can't believe last year's runaway Arkle winner will be 5-1 on the day.

I'd love to see him run in the Clarence House at Ascot rather than go back to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival.

Gaelic Warrior: has to be backed for the Champion ChaseCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

I also wouldn't give up on Grey Dawning being a frame contender for the Gold Cup.

He essentially lost his chance when losing his back legs on landing at the very first fence in the King George, and perhaps the ground and tight chase track was against him.

Plenty of horses have failed to handle Kempton and bounced back at Cheltenham and he's miles better than he showed there.

The staying hurdlers are meh, so I'm not remotely interested in Home By The Lee's win at Leopardstown, and what more is there to say about Sir Gino's chase debut other than wow?

It's frightening to think he's only five and the Arkle is surely his for the taking.

He made Ballyburn look pedestrian, and while he is far from that, surely he will go up in trip as his pedigree has always said he should.

I can't believe I'm starting to get so excited about Cheltenham - but at least the festive action gave us a proper reason. Several, in fact.

This edition of Betting World also includes Paul's view on the two-mile hurdling division after the wins of Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead, how he ranks the novice hurdlers and whether he believes anything can stop Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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