Ruby Walsh names horse that could challenge heavy favourite for Punchestown Gold Cup

Willie Mullins and Galopin Des Champs have competition.

The Punchestown Gold Cup takes place later today, with Willie Mullins' two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, the heavy favourite at evens.

Next up is Spillanes Tower at 3/1, trained by Cork's James Joseph Mangan and ridden by Mark Walsh.

However, legendary Irish jockey, Ruby Walsh, has earmarked another horse to put up a real challenge.

And if there's a pundit who knows what they're talking about for the Punchestown Gold Cup, then it is Ruby.

The Kildare man is a six-time winner of the Cup, and won it twice for Willie Mullins, on Boston Bob and then Kemboy.

For the 5.30pm race, he has backed third-favourite, Banbridge, to pose a serious challenge at 15/4.

The horse is trained by Joseph O'Brien and ridden by JJ Slevin.

Writing in his column for the Irish Examiner, Walsh said: "Galopin Des Champs best horse in the Punchestown Gold Cup but Banbridge must be respected."

Having disappointed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing seventh, after having won the King George VI Chase at Kempton (ridden by Galopin Des Champs jockey, Paul Townend), O'Brien is confident in his horse and of its potential to come back strong after that setback.

Last month he said: "He didn’t jump as well as we would have liked. He still looked to be going pretty well jumping the fourth- or fifth-last and he just faded a little bit from there home.

"He’s come back well and Punchestown would be a logical target for him now having won there last year.

"We’ll probably leave options open, but we’d be thinking about sticking to three miles."