Sir Des Champs has his starting point Punchestown's John Durkan Memorial Chase on December 9 is a potential starting point for ante-post Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Sir Des Champs. The six-year-old is unbeaten since joining Mullins from France and has won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals. His victory in the Jewson Novices' Chase in March was so impressive that with the golden era of chasers which contained Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander coming to an end, he found himself as the new rising star. Sir Des Champs followed up his Cheltenham success in a Grade One at Punchestown, winning by 36 lengths, and is just about the most exciting prospect in the game. "He's done nothing wrong, he's won round Cheltenham for the past two years and he's getting stronger," said Mullins. "We're hoping he's our big hope for the year. We've got no firm plan, but the John Durkan might be a nice race to start him off in."
