Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.

GALVIN is taken to secure back-to-back victories at the Cheltenham Festival by winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday March 18.

At the 2021 Festival Galvin won a Grade 2 novices’ chase over three miles and six furlongs, racing close to the pace throughout before fighting well in the closing stages to score impressively.

The now eight-year-old has raced three times this term, landing a Grade 3 at Punchestown on his return on October 13.

Gordon Elliott’s charge followed up with a close second to Frodon in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on October 30 then secured his first top-flight victory when winning the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown in late December.

Galvin is best-priced at 7-2 – and with several firms is joint favourite at that price with last year’s Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard – whose stablemate and 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo is best-priced at 5-1.

Speaking at recent stable tour, Gordon Elliott said of the ultra-consistent course specialist: “Galvin’s in very good form and he worked well last Monday under Jack Kennedy.

“He’s been to Cheltenham and won three times around the track.

“He’s shown a bit more pace this season and he’s probably got to improve a little bit on form but he’s going well.

“If he can get into a rhythm and be thereabouts two out then I think he’ll come home strong.

“We said we’d go there fresh after winning the Savills Chase and I think he’s improved no end since Christmas. He never knows when he’s beaten and we’re really looking forward to it.”

On Monday (March 7) Galvin was one of Elliott’s 38 Cheltenham entries to work after racing at Leopardstown, where he was ridden by his big-race jockey Davy Russell.

“Davy was very happy with Galvin,” Elliott said. “He quickened twice and looked great.”

Read ‘Horse Talk with Simon Jackson’ for top horse racing tips and the latest news.