Willie Mullins has described the pressure of winning his third Cheltenham Gold Cup with Galopin Des Champs as the most intense of his career, despite the horse coming home as the 7-5 favourite with a comfortable seven-length victory over Bravemansgame.
The race was far from straightforward, with jockey Paul Townend forced to sit further off the pace than he would have liked as Ahoy Senor set a strong gallop from the start. Galopin Des Champs was less fluent over several fences but made steady progress on the second circuit.
Drama unfolded at the 17th fence when Ahoy Senor fell, bringing down Sounds Russian and impeding last year's winner A Plus Tard, who was later pulled up. Galopin Des Champs avoided the melee but then hit the third-last fence hard, allowing Hewick and Bravemansgame to gain an advantage.
Townend allowed his mount time to recover before reeling in the leaders. Bravemansgame briefly led after Hewick fell at the second-last, but Galopin Des Champs overhauled him with a big leap at the final fence and stayed on strongly to win.
Mullins admitted the pressure was immense, saying: 'That was the most pressure I've felt. We elected him as our Gold Cup horse, whereas Al Boum Photo sort of happened. With this fellow, we thought he was good enough and that puts you under pressure until the actual day.'
The trainer tweaked Galopin Des Champs' training after his fall at the last fence in last year's Turners Novice Chase, focusing on stamina and relaxation. The seven-year-old is now the 11-8 favourite to win a third Gold Cup next year.
