Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Day results in FULL as Galopin Des Champs retains crown in centenary race

It was day four of the Cheltenham Festival where the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup took centre stage and Galopin Des Champs successfully defended his crown.

Willie Mullins has proved the man to follow for punters across both sides of the Irish Sea druing this year's Festival and the Closutton maestro landed his fourth Gold Cup inside just six years and the manner of victory was as convincing as his odds implied.

Gerri Colombe was second whilt Scots based Grand National winner, Corach Rambler was third and Lucinda Russell’s ten-year-oldran what the trainer described as an ideal prep for his return visit to Aintree later in the year.

Willie Mullins had seven in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and Majborough obliged in stylish fashion. The handler belives he could well turn out to be a Gold Cup horse in due course though a novice career over fences awaits before those lofty targets.

The punters didn't have it their own way as 33/1 outsider Stellar Story took the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the principal expense of the Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man. The Gordon Elliott stable also took the last on the card with the mercurial Better Days Ahead at a rather more fancied price of 5/1.

Well today had everything - bright sunshine, torrential rain, well backed favourites and the obligatory skinner for the bookies in the Albert Bartlett.

It's been a great Festival for Willie Mullins and J P McManus though honourable mentions must go to the Skeltons as they at least kept the flag flying for Britain.

It was alas a Festival to forget for Nicky Henderson and the Seven Barrows team will be forced to reset themselves and that could mean that they send a stronger team to Aintree than is usually the case. We'll be back for the Grand