'I couldn't be happier with him' - Galopin Des Champs set for John Durkan return

Galopin Des Champs will not be running in the King George VI Chase after Willie Mullins scratched all his entries from the Kempton showpiece, but the Gold Cup favourite will reappear in the John Durkan Chase on Sunday week.

Last season's superstar novice chaser is as short as 9-4 with some firms to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup next March and Mullins has confirmed he is on course to return at Punchestown on December 11 in a race the trainer has won eight times.

Mullins said on Tuesday: "Galopin Des Champs is great and I couldn't be happier with him. He will run in the John Durkan. That's where I'm going with him and I've been very happy with what he's been doing."