'Down Royal will be Galvin's Gold Cup' - but can he win at Punchestown en route?

Wednesday: 4.30 Punchestown
Irish Daily Star - Best For Racing Coverage Chase (Grade 3) | 3m | 5yo+ | RTV

Gordon Elliott went on the record to say the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 5 – the first Grade 1 of the campaign – is Galvin's Gold Cup this season, but can he win this on the way as he did last year?

Some may think his success is a foregone conclusion but the conditions of the race make it anything but. Galvin is a Grade 1 scorer after beating subsequent Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase last year and boasts a mark of 166. However, he must give 12lb to stablemate Run Wild Fred and that won't be straightforward.

Run Wild Fred is a rock-solid 154-rated performer who won the Troytown Chase at Navan last year by a wide margin off a mark of 145. He showed decent form last season and was runner-up in a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown and the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old may have two falls next to his name on his last two starts but they were in the Grand National and its Irish equivalent and Run Wild Fred is generally a good, solid jumper. He is a massive danger in receipt of such weight.

Run Wild Fred: one of three runners for Gordon ElliottCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The fast-improving Politesse was a comfortable winner of the Connacht National in June and backed it up by beating Battloverdoyen at Galway on ground trainer Lorna Fowler was adamant she hated.

The mare is race-fit and has her preferred conditions here, so a big run could be on the cards despite being rated 30lb inferior to Galvin.

Last season's Irish Grand National winner Lord Lariat has Aintree on his agenda this time, while Battleoverdoyen is not a thorough stayer over this trip and not as good as he once was. Macgiloney looks very much up against it too.

Galvin's class could shine through but, at the likely prices, Run Wild Fred is a very viable alternative.

Is there another Gold Cup winner in the field?

It might be only October but this Grade 3 contest has been the springboard for some Cheltenham Gold Cup winners over the years.

War Of Attrition won it three times in all between 2005 and 2008, while Don Cossack was a back-to-back winner in 2014 and 2015 before going on to win the Gold Cup in 2016.

He provided Gordon Elliott with his sole Gold Cup success and the Cullentra House trainer has farmed this race in recent years by winning it seven times since Roi Du Mee opened his account in 2011.

Galvin is a 20-1 shot with Betfair and Paddy Power for the 2023 Gold Cup, while stablemate Run Wild Fred is 50-1 with Unibet.

Don Cossak: two-time winner of this Punchestown contest for Gordon ElliottCredit: John Grossick

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Galvin, Battleoverdoyen and Run Wild Fred
The big race [Ladbrokes Champion Chase] at Down Royal is Galvin's Gold Cup. He was second in it last year and I'm going to have him cherry ripe for it this year. He surprised us last year but kept on improving and ended up in a Gold Cup. He looks very well and he's in great form. We're looking forward to getting him back out at Punchestown. Run Wild Fred had a great season last year and never really let us down. He seems to be in good form but will obviously improve for the run. I thought Battleoverdoyen ran really well at Gowran and wasn't beaten far at all. This was the logical next place for him to come.

Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Lord Lariat
He's in great form and came back in after the summer a lot stronger. This is obviously a hot race against some classy horses but we need to start him back somewhere and after he missed the Kerry National we thought this was a nice place to come.

Lorna Fowler, trainer of Politesse
She's great and we put a plan in place after she won at Galway to aim for this race. She won despite the ground at Galway rather than because of it. I hummed and hawed about taking her out but we let her take her chance and she ended up winning. She will much prefer the ground at Punchestown and I couldn't be happier with her.

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