'I wouldn't discard him' - Henrietta Knight's Cheltenham Gold Cup fancies

Galvin has received the backing of legendary trainer Henrietta Knight to land the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, although she also believes Al Boum Photo "could well win" and emulate her own Best Mate by landing the contest for a third time.

Trained by Gordon Elliott for owner Ronnie Bartlett, whose company sponsors the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the festival, Galvin lowered the colours of A Plus Tard when landing the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Christmas and is the general 7-2 second favourite behind that horse in the betting for the highlight of the meeting.

Speaking on the Racing Post's What A Shout show, Knight said she would "love to see" Galvin take the prize, but added that Al Boum Photo, who captured the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020 before finishing third last year, should not be ruled out of winning.

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"I'd love to see Galvin win," she said. "He's a fine-looking horse and he's gone from strength to strength, and I think it'd be very fitting if he won for his owner Ronnie Bartlett. He jumps, he stays and he's shown his liking for Cheltenham by winning there last year.

"A Plus Tard and Minella Indo clearly like Cheltenham too having won there before, but I wouldn't discard Al Boum Photo. I think he's been very carefully prepared yet again and I think he will run a big race and he could well win."

Knight retired ten years ago after a career that brought her considerable success with the likes of Best Mate, Edredon Bleu, Impek and Somersby. Since then she has increasingly been sought out to assist with schooling young horses along while buying bloodstock for the likes of owner Mike Grech.

Asked about the novice chasers who caught her eye for the festival, Knight told What A Shout: "Bravemansgame has got a lovely style of jumping and I'm sure he'll run a very good race.

"My only question mark is, and I'll probably annoy [his trainer] Paul Nicholls yet again, is he quick enough away from his fences? He's such a lovely jumper and spends so much time making such a lovely shape.

"Galopin Des Champs I love. I thought at Leopardstown he was so nimble with his feet and I love how he goes."

Knight also expressed doubts around how Jonbon, a 4-1 shot for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, would handle the atmosphere at Cheltenham, preferring the chances of his stablemate Constitution Hill and the Willie Mullins-trained Dysart Dynamo.

"Constitution Hill very much impresses me and he seems to have a good temperament, so he will take the big time well," she said. "He's a monster of a horse, although I do think the Irish have a very strong hand and I really like Dysart Dynamo. He looks tough, gallops and has a good attitude.

"I probably shouldn't be saying it, but Jonbon isn't so much my favourite horse as he's a bit more highly strung and I think you have to have a reasonably level temperament for Cheltenham."

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