Just how good is Galopin Des Champs? Potential superstar set for tough test

Sunday: 1.20 Leopardstown
Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 2m5½f | 5yo+ | RTE2/ITV4

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We will find out whether our eyes were deceiving us at Christmas as Galopin Des Champs makes his first appearance since producing the highest Racing Post Rating for a chasing debutant in the modern era.

That awesome 22-length victory earned Galopin Des Champs an RPR of 163, which was 3lb higher than Altior, 8lb better than Bob Olinger and 10lb higher than Sprinter Sacre.

That form has some substance to it as the third home has since won a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse and the runner-up was only narrowly denied next time at Navan.

Galopin Des Champs' jumping down the back straight was particularly impressive. He attacked his fences with relish, made lengths on his rivals and looked a complete natural.

The fact it took Paul Townend a couple of furlongs to pull him up afterwards adds further weight to the argument he could be the best novice chaser in training at the moment. We might find out if that is the case here.

Bob Olinger is another fighting it out for that title and Galopin Des Champs' stablemate Capodanno made him pull out all the stops at Punchestown last time so maybe it won't be all one-way traffic.

Fury Road, the choice of Tom Segal in his ante-post Pricewise column during the week for the Brown Advisory at the festival, is a proven performer at the top level and he looked as though he had got the hang of chasing when shedding his maiden tag over fences in a Grade 1 novice chase over 3m here at Christmas when he beat a 159-rated rival in Run Wild Fred and had the Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier back in third. He probably needs further to be at his very best, though.

Master McShee has also won a Grade 1 on his latest start, swooping late to land the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas. His trainer Paddy Corkery thinks he can beat Galopin Des Champs but he will need to improve again to do so.

Beacon Edge is yet another Grade 1 winner on his most recent outing. He defied a high of 99-1 on Betfair in running to take the Drinmore at Christmas. He has recovered from a bout of colic and would have definite place claims if at his best.

But it all boils down to how good Galopin Des Champs is. I'm a believer.

'He’s one of the most exciting horses we'll see over the weekend'

Paul Townend thought Galopin Des Champs' chasing debut was "faultless", and he had the best seat in the house. But, as he said in an interview with the Racing Post this week, he wants to see him going out and doing it again.

Townend said: "Everything went right but I'm a glass half-empty kind of guy, so I want to see him do it again."

Ireland's champion jockey is well aware this is a much stiffer test to the one he was faced with over Christmas and has huge respect for a number of his opponents.

He said: "Galopin Des Champs was so impressive over Christmas. He’s one of the most exciting horses we'll see over the weekend. Take nothing away from what he done over Christmas, but this is a much harder race for him."

Writing in his Ladbrokes blog, Townend added: "You have Beacon Edge, Fury Road, and Master McShee in here. His performance at Christmas was faultless, and if he can repeat that, we will take an awful lot of beating."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Capodanno, Fighter Allen, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Galopin Des Champs
Galopin Des Champs is up against better rivals here but he’s doing everything right at home. He jumps very well, likes the track and we are hoping he can do what he did last time and take the beating. It’s quite soon after Capodanno's last run behind Bob Olinger but we’re very fortunate to have good horses to run in good races and he takes his chance before going to Cheltenham. Fighter Allen and Gaillard Du Mesnil are inexperienced but I felt they may as well take up their chance and if they put up a good show they’d book their own tickets to Cheltenham. There’s fantastic prize-money on offer.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Capodanno
He came out of his run at Punchestown with a lot of credit. He jumped well and was just beaten by a better horse on the day. It's not an easy contest but he seems to be in good form.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Fury Road
He wasn't 100 per cent fit in the Drinmore, but I'd say the cheekpieces really lit him up at Leopardstown and the bit of better ground suited him too. I thought he was very good there, but he beat Run Wild Fred who is probably a three-and-a-half-mile chaser. I thought Galopin Des Champs was awesome and he's the one we all have to beat.

Paddy Corkery, trainer of Master McShee
Galopin Des Champs will probably take off in front and we'll try not to let him go too far. It'll be some achievement if we beat him. I've already backed him at 25-1.

Read a selection of Sunday previews . . .

3.00 Leopardstown: 'It's exciting and nerve-racking' – history awaits Honeysuckle in Irish Champion Hurdle

1.50 Leopardstown: Paul Townend puts faith in 'electric' Chacun Pour Soi to shine in Dublin Chase

Big-race analysis: why the dominant Chacun Pour Soi will be hard to beat on home soil (Members' Club)

2.40 Musselburgh: 'He has a live chance' – which trainer is looking forward to the better ground?

3.35 Leopardstown: Sir Gerhard in pole position Mullins' strong Supreme hand

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