Ruby Walsh: why Willie Mullins might be tempted to reroute Galopin Des Champs

Ruby Walsh believes Willie Mullins may direct Galopin Des Champs towards a clash with Bob Olinger in the Turners Novices' Chase if the deeply exciting youngster produces another spectacular jumping display at this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival.

Galopin Des Champs could hardly have been any more impressive when bolting up by 22 lengths on his 2m5f chasing debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, a performance that has made him the 6-4 favourite with Ladbrokes for the 3m½f Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

However, the Audrey Turley-owned six-year-old also holds an entry for the 2m4f Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, priced up at 3-1 in which he would likely face red-hot favourite Bob Olinger.

Ruby Walsh: 'If you watch Galopin Des Champs jumping, he lands galloping'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Speaking on the Paddy Power From The Horse's Mouth Podcast, Walsh suggested the outcome of Sunday's Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase over 2m5½f could prove crucial to where Galopin Des Champs lines up in March.

Pressed on whether he believed there was a chance the hot Brown Advisory favourite could line up in the Turners, Walsh said: "Yes, definitely. I'd say a lot depends on what he does this Sunday and how he jumps.

"Were he to put in another spectacular performance jumping-wise as he did at Christmas, I just think will Willie stay at the shorter trip, where speed will count and jumping is more important. The slower you go, the easier it is for horses to jump.

"If Galopin Des Champs is as spectacular again this weekend as he was at Christmas, I'd say Willie Mullins could definitely think that this is the right road to go.

Ruby Walsh: 'It's lucky Aidan Coleman was riding because I would have given up'

"Does that change Henry de Bromhead's opinion? Probably not. Were something to happen to Bravemansgame, might it change Willie's or Henry's opinions? Maybe, and that's always the risk you're running. Until you know what's going, which way do you split them?"

Galopin Des Champs is already a winner over three miles, having readily landed the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at last season's Punchestown festival.

Last year's winner of the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, stablemate Monkfish, stepped up in trip for his next start to land the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham.

Walsh said: "Galopin Des Champs won the Martin Pipe last year and is probably in everybody's mind as a three-miler because of his win at the Punchestown festival, but that was probably Willie dividing and conquering too.

"He already had Gaillard Du Mesnil for the two-and-a-half mile novice hurdle, so that's the way we went with Galopin Des Champs. But I don't think we ever saw him as an out-and-out three miler. We know he stays, but jumping looked to be his biggest attribute at Christmas and I would be surprised if Willie didn't utilise that asset."

The rider turned leading broadcaster added: "If you watch Galopin Des Champs jumping, he lands galloping. If you think you can get a bit on Bob Olinger at every jump, you do the maths on those things and add them up and see where you're going.

"Bravemansgame's strongest point is definitely his jumping as well, so I don't think you'll ever have an advantage in that area on him. You could possibly have one on Bob Olinger."

Bob Olinger: being pointed towards the Turners Novices' ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins appears to have an exquisite team of novice chasers this season and the Dublin Racing Festival could play a key role in determining running plans for the remainder of the spring festivals.

"How Willie's novices fare this weekend will probably clear the waters a bit more for Cheltenham," said Walsh.

"I'd say with Ferny Hollow out, Blue Lord is more likely to stay at two miles. It would look like Capodanno will step up in trip and Willie looked to be hinting strongly on Sunday that Stattler will run in the National Hunt Chase.

"That leaves Jungle Boogie a little bit betwixt and between. I would be surprised were he to come back for the Arkle – he would look more of a two-and-a-half-mile or three-mile horse to me."

Entries and betting for the Turners Novices' Chase

Read this next:

Dublin Racing Festival: five key races you don't want to miss at Leopardstown

New Sky Bet customers can get £20 in free bets. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 2 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.