FOR many, Galopin Des Champs’ impressive wins in the Savills Chase has been the highlight of a jam-packed festive calendar for the last two years, but the lack of a recent run casts doubt over a repeat performance at 2.30pm on Sunday.

Close thirds in the John Durkan Chase preceded Galopin Des Champs’ two previous victories, but he will be making his seasonal debut the three-mile test this year and, as a nine-year-old now, it looks a big ask. That said, a similar effort to his placings on his seasonal returns at Punchestown may be enough to win on Sunday, but perhaps not as impressively as before.

The fact that he is second-favourite at the time of writing adds to his appeal, with notable support having come for Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin. The J.P. McManus-owned seven-year-old is expected to come on from last month’s fifth in the John Durkan Chase, when he was beaten 53 lengths, but he has needed more than one run to produce his best in the past.

He was beaten 36 lengths in last year’s John Durkan and improved to get within 15 and a quarter lengths of Galopin Des Champs here last year, and more than halved that margin next time out, but didn’t win until Cheltenham.

Fastorslow was beaten 29 lengths at Punchestown, but it was a decent effort after 12 months off the track, on ground softer than ideal. Martin Brassil’s lightly-raced nine-year-old is likely to enjoy Sunday’s longer trip and drier ground - he finished second to Galopin Des Champs over course and distance in the 2024 Irish Gold Cup - and comes here as a lively contender.

Willie Mullins said of Galopin Des Champs: “I’m looking forward to seeing him out and hopefully he can put in a good performance. It’s going to be tough having a race like this on his first run of the season. I’m hoping he runs well, but I’m also hoping he comes back sound.”

Patrick Mullins echoed his father’s thoughts, adding: “It’s obviously his seasonal debut and it’s going to be hard.

“A lot of ours having been needing a run. We’d be expecting him to run very well, but would we be gutted if he gets beaten? No. I’d expect him to be bang there, but if he does get tired from the back of the last it won’t be the end of the world.

“Leopardstown at Christmas is where everyone in Ireland wants to be. It’s a big field with a lot depth to it and it won’t be easy, but you look back at the times of Hurricane Fly when he was getting that bit older as well and they can get a great reception if they do pull it off, so it would be great if Galopin can too.”

Mullins also fields Champ Kiely, Lecky Watson, Grangeclare West and I Am Maximus. Champ Kiely and Lecky Watson, both Grade 1-winning novices last season, still have something to prove against their elders.

Gordon Elliott’s shortest-priced entry is Gerri Colombe, who has been off the track since November 2024 due to a stifle injury. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is reportedly the main aim for the nine-year-old, who chased home Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 renewal, and one would imagine that he will improve plenty from his seasonal return.

Henry de Bromhead is hoping Monty’s Star can raise his game following a below-par reappearance in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

He said: “Monty’s Star is in good form and was probably a little bit disappointing in the Coral Gold Cup, but I would say needed the run.

“He had a setback last year and got kicked by another horse and we had to reconstruct a bit of his face. I would say he might just not be the horse he was.

“But we feel he’s better this year and more like himself, and he probably didn’t progress last year like we thought he would. Hopefully he is coming back to himself now.”

Latest betting: 11/8 Galopin Des Champs, 4 Inothewayurthinkin, 7 Fastorslow, 8 Champ Kiely, 10 Affordale Fury, 16 Gerri Colombe, 20 Lecky Watson, 28 bar.

Christmas Hurdle

Last month’s Hatton’s Grace 1-2 Teahupoo and Ballyburn renew their rivalry over almost half a mile further in the Christmas Hurdle (1.55), and the strong finish of the Fairyhouse runner-up suggests he can bridge the gap of a nose, and then some, at Leopardstown.

While Ballyburn has yet to win over three miles under rules, his attempts were over fences and he’s a much better hurdler. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, too, but it’s his tendency to race keenly that is the greatest concern over three miles.

Willie Mullins’ three-time Grade 1 winner gave Paul Townend a tough time at Fairyhouse, his nose nearly touching the floor and, while he may have been fresh on his first start of the season, he’ll have to endure a slower pace on Sunday.

Teahupoo, who has won three Grade 1s over similar trips to this, seems a safer bet, especially with the top two at such short prices, the market evidently expecting another tight finish like we witnessed at Fairyhouse.

The selection’s stablemate, The Yellow Clay, has to bounce back after a disappointing return at Navan last month, when Jack Kennedy reported he never travelled.

Last year’s 1-2, the 10-year-olds Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger, both make their seasonal returns here and will look more attractive propositions on their next outing. Latest betting: 11/8 Ballyburn, 5/2 Teahupoo, 11/2 The Yellow Clay, 9 Bob Olinger, 14 Home By The Lee, 33/1 bar.