Cheltenham Festival: Galopin Des Champs aims to repeat Gold Cup win

Galopin Des Champs bids to join the Prestbury Park immortals when he defends his Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup crown on Friday.

Willie Mullins' stayer erased any stamina doubts with an ultra-impressive success in the blue riband 12 months ago, staying on strongly up the hill to finish seven lengths ahead of game runner-up Bravemansgame.

Although subsequently defeated by Fastorslow in both the Punchestown Gold Cup and when reappearing in the John Durkan, Galopin Des Champs firmly accounted for his reopposing rival when producing a dominant display in last month’s Irish Gold Cup, a victory which supplemented a clinical display at Leopardstown over the Christmas period and sees him head to the Cotswolds in peak condition.

The first time Paul Townend and Galopin Des Champs joined forces at Prestbury Park, the Irishman finished on the deck in the Turners Novices’ Chase as the then bold-jumping novice forfeited a 12-length lead when falling at the last.

However, the Closutton number one was handed plenty of plaudits for the way he nursed the eight-year-old to Gold Cup glory last year and with his mount now the ultimate professional, Townend is relishing the prospect of linking up once again.

"It was disappointing to get beat in the John Durkan but he was very good at Christmas and again at the Dublin Racing Festival," said Townend.

"People had doubts about him (last year) and you always have doubts I suppose when a horse runs in the Gold Cup - until they stay, they don’t stay. We had confidence in him that he would stay and he did.

"Like us all, he’s getting older and wiser and a bit more laid-back and he’s developed into the finished article.

"I’m looking forward to getting back on him and it’s always exciting. I’ve had the horse