Last year’s winner Galopin Des Champs is one of 20 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 15.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Galopin Des Champs came out on top in a terrific duel with Bravemansgame last season and the pair are on course to meet again.

Galopin Des Champs returned to winning ways at Leopardstown over Christmas with a spectacular display which propelled him back to the head of the betting, having suffered two defeats at the hands of the Martin Brassil-trained Fastorslow.

Brassil’s charge has also been entered for the blue riband this year, having gone close in handicap company at the Festival last season. He was a late absentee at Leopardstown.

Mullins has also entered the injury-plagued Monkfish, an impressive winner of the 2021 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, but limited to just three starts since then.

Hewick, Shark Hanlon’s King George winner, Gerri Colombe, Envoi Allen and Gentlemansgame are others from Ireland with the option.

Gary Moore’s hugely-impressive Welsh National winner Nassalam is entered along with the Venetia Williams-trained pair of L’Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille.

Shishkin, so unlucky when coming down two from home in the King George, and Paul Nicholls’ novice Stay Away Fay are also in.

There are 19 entered in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on March 13 in which last season’s first two from the Arkle, El Fabiolo and Jonbon, dominate the betting.

The pair are due to meet at Ascot in the Clarence House Chase later this month first.

Mullins has six contenders in total, including the now nine-year-old Ferny Hollow, who has not seen since December 2021, along with the mare Dinoblue and Appreciate It.

Boothill, Captain Guinness, Edwardstone and Editeur du Gite are others to note, with the last two runners also entered in the Ryanair Chase on March 14.

Mullins’ Allaho will be bidding for a third win in the race having gone close in the King George over Christmas. He is one of eight for the trainer, along with Sir Gerhard, in a total field of 32.

El Fabiolo, Fastorslow, Jonbon and Envoi Allen, winner of the race last season, are among those who have multiple options while Fugitif is in for Richard Hobson

Paul Nicholls has reported that Stage Star returned “a tad sore” after his disappointing run at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

A winner at the Festival in March, he also landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and was having his first run since that success.

However, the combination of heavy ground and a handicap mark of 166 meant he was soon struggling and when his chance had gone coming down the hill, Harry Cobden took the decision to pull him up.

The champion trainer is not too concerned, though, and believes with over three months to go before his next target – the Ryanair Chase back at Cheltenham – he can get him fit and firing once more.

“He was a tad sore when he finished and when he trotted up this morning he wasn’t quite 100 per cent, so I’m guessing he’s pulled some muscles somewhere,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“He’s had a few little issues in the past. He made a couple of mistakes going up the hill and I wasn’t sure he was going that well before then in that ground.

“The vet is in this morning, he’ll give him a full MOT and we’ve plenty of time to get him sorted before the Ryanair. That’s why I was so keen to get a run into him now rather than in a month, as there weren’t many options really.

“We’ve got time to get him back to himself. He had a couple of runs last year when it didn’t go quite right.

“Yesterday morning I was looking for any excuse not to run him and that is unlike me because I’m always positive and always want to run, but when he trotted up and everything, it was all positive, he gave us no reason not to run.

“It wasn’t to be yesterday but I’ve been there a million times before with horses like this, we can just put a line through that run. We’ve loads of time before the Ryanair on spring ground and we’ll get him back for that.”

On a brighter note, Nicholls landed yet another edition of the Challow Hurdle through Captain Teague at Newbury a few days earlier.

“I was pleased with him, he’s improving physically and mentally all the time and he jumped a lot better than he did at Cheltenham – he just idles a little once he’s in front,” said Nicholls.

“I haven’t spoken to Johnny (de la Hey, owner) about what we’re going to do in the spring with him, but ultimately we’re building his career to be a novice chaser this time next year.”

Venetia Williams has confirmed L’Homme Presse is on track to make his eagerly-awaited return at Lingfield during the Winter Million Festival.

The Cheltenham Festival winner has been on the sidelines since unseating his big-race jockey Charlie Deutsch when booked for second place in the 2022 King George VI Chase, missing out on a return to Prestbury Park for a shot at the Gold Cup last spring.

L’Homme Presse is a general 16-1 chance for the blue riband this time around and his handler has the Fleur de Lys Chase on January 21 inked in as the race where the nine-year-old will be back from over a year off the track.

“He’s fine and Lingfield is the plan for the Fleur de Lys,” said Williams. “All being well, he is on course for that.”

Williams also has another talented chaser on her hands in the form of Djelo, who enhanced his growing reputation in Ascot’s Noel Novices’ Chase prior to Christmas.

The six-year-old won just one of his five starts for Williams over hurdles last term but has excelled since switching to fences and, after victories at Aintree and Newbury, took the step up to Grade Two company in his stride when an impressive six-length scorer over Paul Nicholls’ Kandoo Kid.

It was the first time the gelding had raced over further than two miles over the larger obstacles and his trainer is unconcerned about distance, as she assessed what her charge has done so far and what is possible in the future.

“I was very pleased with him and, like all these horses, it is one step at a time, but each question we’ve asked of him, he’s answered very positively,” said Williams.

“He’s a very different horse to L’Homme Presse, he’s much smaller and different, L’Homme Presse is a big wheel and this horse isn’t.

“I don’t think the trip is that important to him. For the time being, I’m not worried whether it is two or two and a half – I could have run him in the graduation chase (at Ascot) over two-miles-five.”

Owner Brian Acheson believes Galopin Des Champs is the best horse since Kauto Star and has conceded his Gerri Colombe will be running for second place when he tackles Willie Mullins’ defending champion in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Galopin Des Champs was an imperious winner of the blue riband in March but had since suffered defeat twice at the hands of Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow, with Acheson’s Gerri Colombe emerging as a real Gold Cup contender when making a winning return at Down Royal.

The two talented stayers clashed for the first time at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase and with the Closutton Cheltenham hero back to his very best, Gerri Colombe was helpless as Galopin Des Champs romped to a brilliant 23-length success.

That shot the eight-year-old back to the top of the Gold Cup market, with Gerri Colombe eased to a best price of 11-1 with Unibet, and Acheson – who runs his horses under the Robcour banner – feels there is no way of turning the tables when they meet again at Prestbury Park in March.

He said: “Galopin is the best horse since Kauto Star and I’ve said it since the day of the Turners (Novices’ Chase, at Cheltenham). He is an absolute rocket, a weapon.

“We lost nothing in defeat and I don’t think there is a horse in training that can stay with him, he’s just a machine.

“You are running for second place. In the era where we don’t have enough good horses, if I didn’t have Gerri in the race, then you would love him to win by half the track just to make him look a superstar – and he is a superstar, I would love to own him.

“Hats off to him and it was actually an honour to run against him, he’s so good.

“We will take him on but there is only one winner.”

Acheson also outlined plans for his plethora of stars in the staying hurdle division.

Bob Olinger and Irish Point have both thrown their names into the mix with victories over the Christmas period, but it is last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle third Teahupoo who is currently carrying his owner’s main hopes following his second Hatton’s Grace success last month.

“Bob Olinger will be going to Aintree,” said Acheson. “If you had three horses, would you run three horses in the Stayers’?

“At the moment, I have two horses who could run in the Stayers’ and the one horse who is going there if he is fit and well is Teahupoo.

“Irish Point won well last week, but Home By The Lee didn’t run his race and Asterion Forlonge was a great horse but is a little bit older now.

“Teahupoo’s run against Impaire Et Passe was better form-wise, so he’s number one, but this French horse (Theleme) is meant to be a superstar.”

Riviere D’etel ran away with the John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase for Gordon Elliott at Fairyhouse.

The seven-year-old was one of five contenders in the race and a 100-30 chance, as Willie Mullins’ Allegorie De Vassy was the 8-13 favourite.

On testing ground, there was no contest, however, and it was Elliott’s runner that won by an unchallenged 33 lengths under Jack Kennedy.

“She’ll probably be very hard to place, I’d say going right-handed really suited her and Jack said she loved the ground,” said Elliott.

“Jack said she stayed very well and we’re delighted with her.

“I don’t know where I’ll go with her but I’d love to go right-handed.”

When asked if that would rule out Cheltenham, Elliott added: “It wouldn’t be out of the question, I’ll talk to Noel (Moran, owner) and see what they want to do, but it just might not be the right place for her.”

Mollys Mango returned to winning ways for the same trainer in the Wishing Everyone A Healthy 2024 Mares Hurdle.

The six-year-old started the campaign in winning form at Thurles but was pulled up last time at Wexford.

She was still the 2-9 favourite at Fairyhouse and certainly looked to be back on song with a 17-length success under Kennedy.

“Jack said she gave him a good feel again, she was disappointing the last day in Wexford but she gave him a good feel there today,” said Elliott.

“We’ll probably come back here in three weeks’ time for the Solerina, try and see if we can get a bit of black type.

“She didn’t turn up for whatever reason the last day, maybe we ran her back too soon.”

Elliott completed a treble when Staffordshire Knot landed the Jump Into January @ Fairyhouse (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race under Harry Swan at 9-4.

Mullins’ I Will Be Baie made a winning hurdles debut in the ITM Irish Stallion Trail 12-13 January Maiden Hurdle.

The six-year-old is a point-to-point and a bumper winner and set off at 11-8 under Paul Townend, jumping fluently to secure a two-and-three-quarter-length success over Elliott’s odds-on favourite My Trump Card.

David Casey, Mullins’ assistant, said: “It was great, he did it well and jumped well.

“We weren’t sure how he’d handle the heavy ground but Paul said he went through it okay. He said he won well.

“He won his point-to-point well and jumped well throughout. Hopefully, we’ll find a race for him in a few weeks and see where we go from there.

“The runner-up was a decent winner of a bumper and had a bit of jumping experience on his side, he set a nice standard and I thought it was a good performance.”

Mullins had another winner on the card with Nick Rockett, successful by seven lengths as the 2-7 favourite in the McInerney Beginners Chase.

“He was good. He improved a little bit from his first run, he obviously jumped very well,” said Casey.

“He did what you’d hope he would do, with natural progression, today.

“Paul (Townend) was very happy and said he was comfortable everywhere.

“He’ll get further, that was two-five today and he’d have no issue getting a trip. He’s a good, relaxed horse and jumps very well. The boss will make a plan now.”

Karl Thornton had a double on the day as Don’t Talk took the Tote+ Pays You More At Tote.ie Handicap Hurdle at 9-2 and Mighty Oak Lad won the Fairyhouse Membership 2024 Handicap Hurdle at 7-2.

“That’s nice. There wasn’t much pace on, and he’s a good jumper, so Donagh (Meyler, jockey) lobbed away in front,” said Thornton of the latter performance.

“He said he made a mistake at the first in Thurles and his race was over, everything was happening a bit quick for him around there, as he’s a big old horse.

“I’d say he’s definitely suited by a bigger track. I’d say he’ll stay hurdling, we’ll give him a couple more runs and see if he can improve again.”

Of Don’t Talk, the trainer commented: “He did it well. Danny (Gilligan) gave him a good ride and everything was straightforward, he seemed to improve from the last day. We thought he had.

“They get caught eventually (by the handicapper) but he’s definitely improving and he jumps a fence well.

“The horses were sick all last year, we just tried to change things around a bit and everything seems healthy now. When they are healthy, you can make a plan, but when they aren’t, you can’t do anything.”

Jungle Boogie proved the toughest of the field in taking the Savills New Year’s Day Chase for Henry de Bromhead at Tramore.

Six contested the Grade Three event run over two miles and seven furlongs on heavy ground and the winner was not especially popular as a 10-1 shot.

Under Darragh O’Keeffe the 10-year-old was headed two out, but as the race neared its conclusion stamina came to the fore and Jungle Boogie displayed plenty to rally and win by a length from Classic Getaway, the 2-5 favourite.

The win initiated a big-race double for the De Bromhead team, with Bob Olinger on the scoreboard in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“He was very good. Henry said to jump out and make the running on him,” O’Keeffe said.

“He jumped very good bar the fence at the top of the hill the first time, he just got under it. I kind of gave him a squeeze and he kind of put down on me.

“Other than that he jumped really well and kept at it well. I’m delighted to win this race, especially after having three seconds earlier on.

“When I saw Danny (Mullins) coming to me, I thought ‘not again!’.

“Thankfully my lad rallied and got back going again. He wasn’t beaten that far the last day against the best of the two-milers in Ireland and he stayed on really well.

“For a horse that wants a trip, he travels really well. I’m delighted to get that with him now and I’m very grateful to connections for giving me the spin on him.

“I said to the lads afterwards that the track was plenty tight for him, as he is a big, big horse. Thankfully he got the job done and it’s a nice race to win.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Boldog was a convincing winner of the David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle at 5-1 under J J Slevin.

The six-year-old was a bumper winner for Stuart Crawford and got off the mark at the first opportunity for his new stable with a five-and-a-half-length win.

“Good performance, actually. He coped well with the ground, and his bumper runs were decent enough last year,” Slevin said.

“He’s going to be a staying horse. He was fine until halfway down the back when he took off.

“It was going to be hard for him to win doing that, but he stuck it out well. Joseph is having a great season with his jumpers, and it’s nice to have this one for Simon and Isaac (Munir and Souede, owners).

“Daryl (Jacob, retained rider) is in Cheltenham today so I’m lucky I got to step in.”

Bynx (6-1) took the Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle for Martin Hassett and Sean Flanagan in a three-and-a-half-length triumph.

“She’s been fierce unlucky. A few times things didn’t go our way, but, as I said to Sean, when in doubt, call on Flanagan. He gave her a masterclass. I know it looks simple but he got the fractions spot-on on that ground,” Hassett said.

“She’d probably win more but she’s hard on herself at home. When she comes racing, she switches off.”

Willie Mullins’ Stoke The Fire made light work of the Ryans Cleaning Services Maiden Hurdle under Danny Mullins as the 5-6 favourite.

A dual-purpose campaigner who was second on the Flat four times in a row last year, the five-year-old has been purchased by Middleham Park Racing and is their first runner with the champion trainer.

His hurdling bow was a great success as he crossed the line 15 lengths ahead of his nearest rival.

“We’ll stoke the fire tonight!” Mullins quipped in relation to the weather conditions.

“He did it well and jumps well for a Flat horse. I was very happy with how he handled that ground for a Flat horse as well. Hopefully it’ll be the start of something.

“It’s Middleham Racing’s first runner for us and I’m not sure where I’m going to go with him now, we’ll see. We’ll get home and plan something for him.

“He’ll probably mix it between hurdles and Flat racing.”

Bob Olinger was a Cheltenham winner once again when striking in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle.

Under Rachael Blackmore he returned to the track at which he has enjoyed two Festival successes, in the 2021 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and in the 2022 Turners Novices’ Chase.

Now reverted to hurdling after seeming to lose his way over fences, the Henry de Bromhead-trained bay was the 6-4 favourite for the Grade Two feature.

In a field of four each of the quartet still held a chance turning for home, but it was Bob Olinger who strode up the hill to secure an impressive seven-length win from market rival Marie’s Rock.

Nicky Henderson has warned Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Jeriko Du Reponet needs another run before the Cheltenham Festival.

The JP McManus-owned gelding took his record under rules to two from two when winning in style at Newbury on Saturday.

However, despite being impressed by what he has seen so far from the high-class prospect, he will need to see the racecourse again before March, according to the Seven Barrows handler.

“Jeriko was fantastic, I thought he was special,” said Henderson.

“We rode a horse who is a real good galloper for speed and he actually beat speed horses. I thought he was fantastic. He waltzed away from them and he will gallop forever.

“He’ll have to have another run before Cheltenham and if he doesn’t run before then, he won’t run at Cheltenham.”

One option available is Haydock’s Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle, which Henderson won with Jonbon two seasons ago, while Kempton’s Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle could be another route to Prestbury Park available to the five-year-old.

Henderson added: “It’s not where I would like to go (Haydock) but there isn’t too much else. Kempton would be very close, so I don’t know – someone put a race on somewhere!”

Henderson is still coming to terms with Shishkin’s dramatic exit from the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The multiple Grade One winner was going strongly in front when he slipped after jumping two out, unshipping Nico de Boinville.

“He’s got a very sore splint and I’m thinking we’re trying to hesitate a reason for doing what he did,” said Henderson.

“He gave himself a right whack on his off-fore, where a splint which was probably already there has become very sore. He’s not lame but very sore.

“If he clonked that in mid-air or whatever, he would have landed going ‘ahhhhhhh’. But you can’t land on one leg and pick the other one up.

“We’ve got the splint itself to settle down and the soreness will come out of it, but if you do touch it, he is very, very sore, the poor old boy.

“It just means I think I know what happened, but what does it matter what happened. He tripped over at the end of the day, why he did it doesn’t even matter.

“I have no idea where he will race next, we will let the dust settle, no one has even thought about it.”

Henderson also had news of Willmount, who lost his unbeaten record in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

The trainer said: “He’s fine. I don’t think it was the ground. There’s a few things we might check out before we decide what we do next, but it’s not an easy thing to check out on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, because the men you want to try to find these things out (are busy), unlike me last night, who was fast asleep.”

Shakem Up’Arry provided jockey Ben Jones with a first Cheltenham winner as he struck in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase.

Ben Pauling’s 10-year-old – who is owned by former football manager Harry Redknapp – started at 11-2 as Paul Nicholls’ Stage Star was the most fancied of the field as the 11-10 favourite.

The latter horse carried the welter burden of 12st, however, and in the end it was Shakem Up’Arry and Venetia Williams’ Frero Banbou who pulled clear up the hill.

Pauling’s gelding pulled even further away after the last and secured a seven-and-a-half-length win on the line.

Paul Nicholls is planning on sending Bravemansgame straight to Cheltenham for his next outing and is backing him to be “competitive” again in the Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old was a game runner-up behind Galopin Des Champs in last season’s blue riband but has yet to get on the scoresheet this term.

After finishing second in the Charlie Chall at Wetherby and Haydock’s Betfair Chase, he filled the same position when trying to defend his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Nicholls said: “He’ll go straight to Cheltenham and we’ll see how we get on. He’s got a mountain to climb; we know where he is, we know his level of form, but he’ll be competitive.”

There is still a chance that Bravemansgame could seek a confidence-boosting success in the Denman Chase at Newbury on February 10, but the direct route to Cheltenham is more likely.

“I’ve got to discuss it with (owner) Bryan Drew and it has crossed my mind, as Kauto Star and Denman always went and ran in that race, so we might,” admitted Nicholls.

“I’ve said he will go straight to Cheltenham, but I will discuss it with the guys to see what they want to do.”

Nicholls feels the departure of Shishkin after the penultimate fence in the King George counted against his charge, who was hampered by that incident before being passed late on by Hewick.

“I think it would have been very interesting between him and Shishkin if he had kept going,” said the champion trainer.

“I think they’d have jumped the last together and then it would have been an interesting race. But ‘if’ is a big word in racing, so we were just pleased with the way he ran.”

Nicholls is not making any firm plans for hot prospect Captain Teague, who gave him and jockey Harry Cobden a fourth straight victory in the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

The Johnny de la Hey-owned gelding overcame continued signs of greenness to come through and beat Lookaway, following in the footsteps of past winners such as Denman, Bravemansgame, Stage Star and Hermes Allen.

“He’s come out of the race well and we’re obviously thrilled with him,” commented Nicholls.

“As Harry said, he idles a little bit in front and he’s still learning his job.

“I haven’t made any plans, Johnny has gone away and I’ll sit down and make a plan with him later on.”

Captain Teague figures prominently in the ante-post markets for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, although he is seen very much as a chaser in the making.

“Stay Away Fay won the Albert Bartlett on his third run of the season and he’s not unlike him in a lot of ways,” added the Ditcheat handler.

“Johnny might want to come to Cheltenham, go to Aintree or something else, but ultimately he’s a chaser and that’s what we got him for.

“Funnily enough, a lot of my horses that won the Challow, apart from Denman and Stage Star, they came to Cheltenham and all got beat before ending up chasing.

“He is a very interesting horse and I think there’s plenty to come from him, but as Harry said, he’s a baby and learning is what it’s all about.

“He’s a very nice horse for the future and if he turns out like all the other ones I’ve won the Challow with, we’ll be very happy.”

Nicky Henderson has given a ringing endorsement to James Bowen as he continues to deputise for the injured Nico de Boinville on the cream of the Seven Barrows string.

De Boinville suffered a broken collarbone in a fall at Doncaster on Friday, and although his experience will prove a loss for Henderson and his Lambourn operation, he has a “top-class” deputy waiting in the wings.

Fresh from riding his first Grade One winner aboard Henderson’s Jango Baie at Aintree on Boxing Day, Bowen picked up key rides at Newbury on Saturday for his boss, steering the high-class prospect Jeriko Du Reponet to a comfortable success.

Bowen partnered the opening winner on Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day card and afterwards Henderson said: “There has never been any doubt about James.

“We’re going to miss Nico but, funny enough, some horses will suit James and it works both ways.

“James is absolutely 100 per cent top class, we’ve always known that. Nico is there riding at his best and James is there backing him, but he’s a bit better than just a back-up.

“It’s great that when this happens you have a top man ready there to grab the reins.”

It is unknown how long De Boinville will be on the sidelines and he could miss steering the likes of Jonbon and Constitution Hill in their intended engagements over the next month.

However, Henderson has no doubt Bowen would be more than up to the task if his owners give the nod for the Welshman to deputise, pointing out his ice-cool temperament would help combat the pressure of linking up with some of racing’s best talent.

“You would have to talk to the owners and it would be their decision at the end of the day, but it wouldn’t be a worry from my point of view, put it like that,” continued Henderson.

“These are the things you have to learn about as well, and he’s stepping up into the big days. But he’s won Welsh Grand Nationals before and he’s as cool as they come.

“He was only 16 when he came to us and we’ve learnt a lot since then, he’s learnt to drive if nothing else.

“This is a fantastic family he comes from. The person I feel really sorry for at the moment is Sean (Bowen, brother) who has done so brilliantly and built up a lead (in the jockeys’ championship) and now it looks like he has thrown that lead away (with injury).

“They are a fantastic family and by god they can ride.”

Peaky Boy made a winning introduction to hurdles with an effortless success at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old was contesting the Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Maiden Hurdle on his first run for Nicky Henderson, his first hurdling start after winning a bumper and a point-to-point previously.

Under James Bowen he was the 13-8 favourite and made an impression with a straightforward five-length victory, earning a 33-1 quote for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle back at Prestbury Park in March.