KG PUNT ON GALOPIN

WILLIE MULLINS last night claimed to be in the dark over a wholesale gamble on Galopin Des Champs for the King George VI Chase.

The six-year-old was freely available at 8-1 for the Ladbrokes-sponsored Boxing Day feature at the start of trading yesterday.

But a welter of support saw Galopin Des Champs’ odds contract to a low of 9-4 second favourite.

Last Friday, Mullins (right) was forced to pull hot favourite Allaho out of the Kempton Park three miler — and Ireland’s champion trainer is insistent “no decision has been made” over whether Galopin Des Champs will travel from Closutton to take his place.

“He’s got an entry in it all right but we’ve a lot of other options,” said Ireland’s champion trainer.

“He’s in the John Durkan

(Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 11), he’s entered in lots of races but his starting-off point hasn’t been finalised.”

Galopin Des Champs runs in the colours of Audrey Turley and Mullins added: “His owner’s away on holiday and as yet it hasn’t been discussed.

“We discussed the other day where we might be heading but that was only ‘in house’.”