Galopin Des Champs scorches to Savills Chase win at Leopardstown

Galopin Des Champs returned to his brilliant best with a stunning display in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

Beaten by Fastorslow in his two races since winning the Gold Cup in March, his task was eased when that rival was declared a non-runner on account of the ground, but Willie Mullins' seven-year-old still impressed with a wide-margin win.

Having raced a little lethargically on his comeback in the John Durkan Chase, he looked full of enthusiasm on this occasion.

With Conflated setting a generous gallop in front, Paul Townend was content to take a lead in second with Gerri Colombe, Gordon Elliott’s big hope, just in behind.

The order stayed pretty much the same throughout but Galopin Des Champs was making several lengths with his brilliant jumping on the way round.

Henry de Bromhead’s A Plus Tard, himself a previous Gold Cup winner, could not get on terms at any stage and Gerri Colombe was under pressure a long way from home.

Townend took a wide course coming off the final bend and with just the last fence standing between him and victory, Galopin Des Champs flew it before pulling further and further clear, with the 6-4 favourite winning by 23 lengths from Gerri Colombe.

Galopin Des Champs (6-4F) improves massively from his seasonal reappearance to score an emphatic 23-length win in the Grade One Savills Chase. pic.twitter.com/9VR3K6Q0iA

Mullins told RTÉ Sport: "Paul was keen to change tactics today, he wanted to bounce out and let him enjoy himself over the first few fences. I said 'let's do that’ because the last twice he was beaten and things didn’t work out.

"I think the horse gave it back to Paul. When I saw him jumping the first the way he did I thought ‘right, game on here today’.

"He fiddled a few fences after that