Gold Cup Hope, Des Champs, Handed Ryanair Chase Option

The Willie Mullins-trained Sir Des Champ, currently a solid 9/2 second-favourite in the ante-post list for the Gold Cup at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival, has also been handed an entry in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Festival meeting 24 hours earlier, writes Elliot Slater.

The general view is that the gelded son of Robin Des Champs will be better suited by the Gold Cup trip of three-and-a-quarter-miles, a fact reflected by him being offered at 10/1 for the Ryanair Chase run over two-miles-five furlongs.

The seven-year-old has been trained with the Cheltenham Gold Cup in mind all season so it would come as a surprise to pundits giving horse tips should Mullins have a change of heart and bid for the shorter of the two big events.

Cheltenham has proved a very happy hunting ground for the Gigginstown Stud-owned chaser, who will be bidding for a Festival hattrick, having beaten 22 rivals to land the 2011 renewal of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

He put up a high-class performance 12 months ago in his first season as a novice chaser, easily accounting for the smart Champion Court in the Grade 2 Jewson Novice Chase, sounding an early warning that the Gold Cup would be very much on the agenda this time around.

A five-length runner-up to classy Flemenstar on his seasonal return in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December, Sir Des Champs then finished faster than anything when beaten just a length into fourth place in a blanket finish to the dramatic Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

Returning to that track earlier this month, Davy Russell’s mount confirmed his quality with victory over old rival, Flemenstar, in the Grade 1 Irish Hennessy Gold Cup, and appears right on track to put up a huge show at Cheltenham next month.