Galopin des Champs justified favouritism to land the sport’s biggest prize of the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Paul Townend timed his ride to perfection to calmly pass Bravemansgame and power up the hill to secure a third victory for himself and Willie Mullins in the sport’s prestigious event.
The King George winner Bravemansgame ran a gallant race but couldn’t match the winner and Conflated ran on in third for Sam Ewing and Gordon Elliott.
There were two fallers with Ahoy Senor and Hewick both falling but thankfully both were up ok.
“It wasn’t clean sailing, that’s for sure. He did well after running into some trouble. Just had to be careful after the first hurdle,” said Townend
“This is a proper, proper horse. He’s already done three races and has now won the Gold Cup.
An emotional Townend added: “You saw there was a chance when Ahoy Senor and Hewick fell and to be the last one on the scene, it’s just different to winning any other race.”
The win is Townend’s fifth win of the festival, with there being just two more left in the day.
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