JJ Slevin: Banbridge can give Galopin Des Champs a race in Cheltenham Gold Cup

Jockey JJ Slevin is confident King George hero Banbridge can give Galopin Des Champs a run for his money in his bid for a third victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Galopin Des Champs is an odds-on favourite to join racing legends like Arkle and Best Mate by becoming a three-time winner of the blue riband at Prestbury Park, after continuing his dominance of the division by completing a hat-trick in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Slevin, though, knows what it takes to beat the Willie Mullins-trained superstar, having steered the currently sidelined Fastorslow to successive victories over him in the Punchestown Gold Cup, and believes Banbridge has "as good a chance as anyone" of denying Galopin Des Champs in the Cotswolds.

"Banbridge is a different beast to ride to Fastorslow in that he's actually a little bit of a lazy racer, whereas Fastorslow would travel around and be there for you whenever you wanted him," said the County Wexford-born rider.

"Banbridge takes a little bit of warming up to get into it and I think that's a good thing for a Gold Cup, three-mile-two around Cheltenham and there's a lot of galloping from the second-last to the line, and the fact that he's able to win over two miles is massive because he should go through the race easier and jump quicker than your average three-miler.

"We should be landing there doing everything effortlessly and then he either stays or he doesn't, at the end of the day.

"It's hard to say you're going to beat Galopin Des Champs, but do I think he can give him a race? Yes, very much so. My lad is uncomplicated, Paul (Townend) is going to do his thing and we'll do our thing and see what happens as the race unfolds.

"I think I've as good a chance as anyone of beating him at