Galvin set for seasonal reappearance at Punchestown

Gordon Elliott's Galvin begins his season at Punchestown as he bids to retain his title in the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase.

The horse won the race by half a length when starting out in the same race last year, after which he was the runner up in Down Royal’s Champion Chase and the winner of Leopardstown’s Savills Chase – both Grade One races.

Subsequently fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and sixth in the Punchestown Gold Cup, the eight-year-old begins his season at the latter track once again and currently heads the market for the Grade Three contest.

"He’s in good form. He’s done nothing wrong all last year and he’s an unassuming type of horse," Elliott said.

"He’s as fit as I can have him starting off and I’m looking forward to running him."

Galvin is one of a trio of entrants from Elliott’s yard, with Battleoverdoyen making his second start of the term for the trainer after finishing third in Gowran Park’s PWC Champion Chase on his seasonal debut.

Elliott will also saddle Run Wild Fred, a faller in Grand National races at both Aintree and Fairyhouse during the latter end of last season, but a horse who was enjoying a good campaign beforehand with second-placed runs in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

"He’s well as well and he could give Galvin a run," Elliott said.

"Jack (Kennedy, jockey) schooled him this morning and he jumped well."

Dermot McLoughlin’s Lord Lariat was the winner of the Irish Grand National when last seen at Fairyhouse, triumphing at 40-1 to give his trainer a second victory in two years after Freewheelin Dylan landed the race at 150-1 in 2021.

The horse begins his term at Punchestown and his trainer is hopeful he will start the