'It has nothing to do with the track' - Ruby Walsh on why punters should not be fooled by Galopin Des Champs' poor course record

Is it a track thing with Galopin Des Champs? One of the greatest staying chasers of the modern era has been beaten on his last four trips to Punchestown, twice in this very race, and none of his top ten performances according to Racing Post Ratings has come at the track. Seven from seven over fences at Leopardstown, one from five over fences at Punchestown. It begs the question: does he hate the place? 

"Absolutely not," said Ruby Walsh, when that very question was put to him. "He won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown and posted a Timeform rating of 170 when he won the John Durkan a few years ago."

"I just think it's the time of year. Galopin Des Champs is obviously trained to peak in the Gold Cup every year. He had two hard races in Gold Cups for the last two years before coming here. I actually don't think he had as hard a race this year compared to other years and that could stand to him.

"If you watch Paul Townend between the last and the line, he actually accepts it and doesn't give Galopin a hard race. That takes some doing in a Gold Cup. That's experience."

Walsh added: "I think the top staying chasers are trained to peak for the Gold Cup and, even if you look at the ones who go to Aintree, they don't perform to the same level as at Cheltenham. It's the same with Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup. 

Ruby Walsh: "He's perfectly fine around Punchestown, you saw that over hurdles and when he won the John Durkan"Credit: Alan Crowhurst

"It definitely doesn't have anything to do with the track. He's perfectly fine around Punchestown, you saw that over hurdles and when he won the John Durkan. It's the fact the race comes after the Gold Cup, the timing of it that's the problem. But, as I said, I don't think he got as hard a race as other years at Cheltenham this year."

Leading pro punter Johnny Dineen agrees with Walsh, but the Upping The Ante star is very worried about the ground.

Dineen said: "I wouldn't have a worry in the world about Punchestown for Galopin Des Champs. That wouldn't even enter my head when considering whether to back him or not. What does worry me is the ground. 

"I think on soft ground he would win, but the quicker it gets the less confident I will become. I have a feeling he might get a freebie in front as I can't see anybody else wanting to make it and we all know Galopin Des Champs is a very hard horse to pass. For that reason, I will probably back him at 6-5. Don't be one bit worried about the track."

Mullins conceded that Punchestown "is not his favourite track for some reason or other", but added of Galopin Des Champs: "I think the big races deserve to have the big horses running in them. I would probably rather give him a break at his age, but he's running now and he seems in good form."

Banbridge: King George victory puts him right in the mixCredit: Alan Crowhurst

There may only be four runners but they are of the highest quality. Banbridge won this season's King George and, while he failed to fire when upped in trip in the Gold Cup, he recovered from a poor effort at last year's festival to land the Champion Chase at this meeting so it can be done. Ignore him at your peril, as his whole career has told you. 

Then you have Spillane's Tower. A cosy winner of a Grade 1 novice chase at last year's Punchestown festival, when he was too good for Monty's Star, he hasn't been seen since disappointing in the aforementioned King George, but his narrow defeat to Fact To File in the John Durkan puts him right into the mix. 

He skipped Cheltenham for Aintree and, then when the ground dried out, he missed the Bowl there, so he comes here fresher than anything else. Could that make the difference?

But, it all comes back to Galopin Des Champs and whether he can banish his Punchestown demons. This is the perfect stage for him to set the track record straight. 

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Banbridge
He's prepared well for this. He looks great and he's fit. He ran well to win at this festival last year after disappointing at Cheltenham so hopefully he can do that again this year.

Rachael Blackmore, rider of Monty's Star
He ran a big race at this meeting last year. There are only four runners but it’s a really strong race, as you would expect for a Punchestown Gold Cup. Monty’s Star ran his race at Cheltenham to finish fourth in the Gold Cup, and he has come out of the race really well. We don’t have a lot to find with Spillane’s Tower on their running at Punchestown last year, and I hope we can be bang there again.

Jimmy Mangan, trainer of Spillane's Tower
He's spot on and everything has gone well in the lead up to the race. It's been a bit of a frustrating season and he hasn't run since the King George, but I couldn't be any happier with him. Brendan Sheridan [clerk] tells me the ground will have cut in it so that's good enough for me. We're looking forward to it.

Read more:

Galopin Des Champs is in pole position but a significant danger lurks   

Did the last few months even happen? Galopin Des Champs back where he started with plenty to prove in epic Gold Cup   

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