Champs heads a 10-strong Gold Cup field

Galopin Des Champs will face a maximum of nine rivals as he bids for a third successive victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old will be trying to join Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate as a three-time victor, with Golden Miller the most successful runner in the race’s history as a five-time champion.

Galopin Des Champs has won two of his three starts this term and he is the only Mullins contender, with Fact To File and Grangeclare West not confirmed.

Joseph O’Brien’s King George VI Chase winner Banbridge is among Galopin Des Champs’ key rivals, along with the supplemented Inothewayurthinkin who finished fourth behind the big-race favourite last time.

Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross is also in contention with Henry de Bromhead’s pair of Monty’s Star and Jungle Boogie, plus the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame completing a strong Irish challenge.

The British team is limited to three in The Real Whacker from Patrick Neville’s yard, Ahoy Senor for Lucinda Russell and Royale Pagaille, who is trained by Venetia Williams.

However, Williams did not confirm L’Homme Presse, winner of the Cotswold Chase but pulled up at Ascot last time out.

The 10-year-old is owned in partnership by Pam Sharman, Ray Sharman, Andy Edwards and Peter and Patricia Pink, with Edwards confirming a “minor” problem has scuppered his challenge.

He said: “The horse is happy in himself but he just had a minor issue that means he won’t be running in the Gold Cup.”

Conflated, Hewick and Grey Dawning were the other runners to depart the scene at the confirmation stage.