Is Galopin Des Champs the Gold Cup winner? Our experts have their say

Galopin Des Champs made short work of his rivals to win the Irish Gold Cup on Saturday, but the bookmakers were not convinced, with several firms pushing him out for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. We asked three of our experts if the Willie Mullins-trained star was their idea of the Gold Cup winner.

'Noble Yeats is my likeliest winner'

Galopin Des Champs may well emerge as the Gold Cup winner but at odds of less than 2-1 it's very hard to recommend him as a Gold Cup bet. There was lots to like about the way he powered clear from Leopardstown's final fence but it was not a performance filled with brilliance, while the amount of time he spends in the air when jumping remains less than ideal. If A Plus Tard recaptures the form of March 2022 he will likely defend his title but at this stage Noble Yeats is my likeliest winner. I suspect he'll leave his Cotswold Chase form behind in the Gold Cup, with the reapplication of cheekpieces set to be a major positive for a horse who will devour the hill.
Lee Mottershead, senior writer

'He put any stamina concerns to bed'

Galopin Des Champs has been the one constant in the Gold Cup market and, while he is clearly not a betting proposition, he does look like the likeliest winner at this stage. The seven-year-old put any stamina concerns to bed with a professional victory and although it was not the demolition job many had hoped for, he toughed it out and showed enormous power when asked to put the race to bed after being ridden patiently. Many of the British contenders have questions to answer and they will clearly have to be at their absolute best to beat Galopin Des Champs but at the prices, Bravemansgame and A Plus Tard have been a little bit forgotten and are definitely of interest.
Jonathan Harding, reporter

'Odds of 11-8 don't appeal'

The Gold Cup always seems to be more open than people think and, for all Galopin Des Champs passed his three-mile chasing test in Saturday's Irish Gold Cup, odds of 11-8 don't appeal as he will have another two and a half furlongs to contend with in March, which will present a totally different challenge. Noble Yeats looks the best bet of those towards the top of the market based on his excellent Cotswold Chase third when reportedly not fully tuned up, and I must also confess to having a soft spot for the novice The Real Whacker, who has lots to find on ratings after just two chase runs but has shaped like a top staying chaser of the future.
Maddy Playle, reporter

Read these next: 

Brilliant Galopin Des Champs drifts for Gold Cup despite Leopardstown success 

Unbeaten Gerri Colombe storms to Brown Advisory favouritism with Scilly Isles win 

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