Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs cut from 8-1 to 9-4 for King George

Galopin Des Champs, one of the most exciting jumpers in training, was on Friday backed into second favourite for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

Available at 8-1 for Kempton’s Christmas showpiece on Friday morning, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old had been cut across the betting industry to as low as 9-4 second-favourite with Paddy Power by mid-afternoon.

Stablemate Allaho, long-time ante-post King George favourite, was ruled out of the race last weekend after suffering a training setback, leaving the main British challenger, Bravemansgame, as 11-10 favourite.

Paul Binfield, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “We’ve seen a few bets for Galopin Des Champs today which would indicate Willie [Mullins] is certainly thinking of sending him to Kempton over Christmas.

“With Allaho unfortunately ruled out of the race, it could be that Galopin Des Champs proves to be the Mullins super-sub.”

Coral are 3-1 about Galopin Des Champs for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, having offered 7-1 at the start of Friday. Bravemansgame heads the Kempton betting at evens.

Coral's David Stevens said: "We've not seen any word from connections that Galopin Des Champs will be heading to Kempton on Boxing Day, but plenty of punters seem convinced he will be, and having been a 7-1 chance earlier today, he's now the chief market rival to favourite Bravemansgame."

Galopin Des Champs, winner of three of his four novice chases last season, fell at the final fence in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March when 12 lengths clear of Bob Olinger.

He has yet to reappear this season, but holds an entry in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase on December 11, a fortnight before the King George, and is the general favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

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