Galvin galvanised to head straight for Cheltenham Gold Cup

Gordon Elliott has indicated his Plan-A to head straight for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with the talented Galvin, despite entering him for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown next month.

The Gold Well gelding, owned by Ronnie Bartlett, emerged as a serious contender for the Cheltenham centrepiece chase when surging late to deny last year's Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard back-to-back wins in Leopardstown's Savills Chase in December.

Elliott said afterwards that Galvin would not run again before the Cheltenham Festival in March, but did enter him for the Irish Gold Cup last week.

Although Paddy Power are offering a €150,000 bonus to any horse who can complete the Gold Cup double, the Cullentra handler is keen to stick to Plan A.

He said: "He's in at Leopardstown but I'd imagine he'll go straight to the Gold Cup.

"We just stuck him in to give him an option, but he'll go straight to the Gold Cup."