Galopin Des Champs gains redemption in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Galopin Des Champs ran out a convincing seven-length winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup after the favourite had clattered a number of fences on the way round in a dramatic race in which long-time leaders Ahoy Senor and then Hewick fell.

It was the third Gold Cup success for trainer Willie Mullins with the 7-5 market leader. The King George winner Bravesmansgame was second at 6-1 and Conflated, whose jockey Davy Russell pulled out at the last minute feeling sore, was third at 22-1.

Galopin Des Champs had fallen at the last fence 12 months previously at the Cheltenham Festival with the Turners Chase at his mercy and this was redemption for the winner and his connections.

Victorious rider Paul Townend said after the race: “It wasn’t clean sailing – everywhere I went I ran into trouble. He was very careful with his fencing on the first circuit but he’s a proper horse to win like that. This race is just different – it takes me to another level.”

All the fallers, and Sounds Russian who was brought down when Ahoy Senor fell, returned in good shape after their mishaps.

Earlier, the Irish were dominant in the betting for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, the prime contest for the staying novice hurdlers, but not for the first time this week Paul Nicholls kept the prize at home via battling display courtesy of Stay Away Fay.

The race was won in dramatic style after the well-fancied Corbetts Cross ducked out at the last but the winner looked to have his measure at that stage and victorious rider harry Cobden said: “[Stay Away Fay] will be the most fantastic chaser next year – we haven’t see the best of him.”

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