The countdown is on to the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2022 with Irish-trained horses dominating the ante-post market.

Henry de Bromhead capped a remarkable Festival last year when saddling a Gold Cup 1-2 with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard while hat-trick seeking Al Boum Photo completed a clean sweep for the Irish.

All three horses are prominent in the betting, although the winner has to put a disappointing run in the King George VI Chase behind him. Rachael Blackmore rode him prominently in first-time cheekpieces at Kempton but he was a beaten horse a long way from home and was eventually pulled up. His supporters will point to his fine Cheltenham record of two wins and a second place in the hope that he can bounce back to form.

Minella Indo will face stiff competition from the likes of last year’s runner-up and current favourite A Plus Tard. The gelding strolled to a wide margin victory in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock and was immediately installed as Gold Cup favourite.

He then started odds-on favourite for a repeat win in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown but was caught on the line by Galvin. A Plus Tard had to work hard to shake off Kemboy and is set to go straight to Cheltenham without another run.

Galvin’s Gold Cup odds tumbled from 14/1 to 5/1 in the wake of that success. He is a very progressive chaser who gamely won the National Hunt Chase at last year’s Festival.

Trainer Gordon Elliott is also likely to keep him under wraps until March, a policy which paid off handsomely last season. Al Boum Photo enjoyed his customary win at Tramore on New Year’s Day, taking the prize for the fourth consecutive season. Willie Mullins has not ruled out one more run before Cheltenham for the dual Gold Cup winner.

Bookmakers’ Bet365 and Betfred are among those already offering a “mon-runner, no bet” concession on the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The

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Mullins has other potential runners including shock King George VI Chase winner Tornado Flyer. His nine-length victory surprised even his trainer but he has been virtually friendless in the Gold Cup betting at around 14/1.

The shortest in the betting for the home team this year is currently Protektorat at 10/1, trained by Dan Skelton. He carried top weight into second place in the Paddy Power Gold Cup before routing the opposition in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree. That was his first run beyond three miles and only three horses finished in very testing conditions.

Nicky Henderson’s duo of Champ and Chantry House could yet enter calculations. The latter was pulled up at Kempton on Boxing Day while Champ is thought more likely to contest the Stayers Hurdle.

He won the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December on his first start since being pulled up in last season’s Gold Cup.

It is difficult to see anything else emerging as a serious Gold Cup contender, although races like the Irish Gold Cup and Cotswold Chase could provide further clues.

Thirty horses remained at the latest Gold Cup declaration stage with the race scheduled for Friday, March 18th at 3.30pm.