Galopin Des Champs secured back-to-back Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup victories for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
The eight-year-old was sent off the 10-11 favourite to defend his Festival title and he did so in style, galloping away from Gerri Colombe up the Cheltenham hill.
Last year’s Grand National hero Corach Rambler stayed on gamely for third, but none of his 10 rivals could really trouble Galopin Des Champs who was a three-and-a-half-length winner.
Townend told ITV Racing: “Unbelievable. We had to draw on our reserves there. I rode him completely different to last year and he was just so brave for me.
“We were a bit in between at the last and I was afraid about going for it, but it was a Gold Cup and you had to – and he’s pulled out all the stops again.”
