Cheltenham Festival 2023 LIVE: Galopin Des Champs wins Gold Cup
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Afraid that's it. Everyone enjoyed themselves this week? Hope so!
The Irish contingent at Cheltenham have certainly had fun, particularly the Festival's leading trainer Willie Mullins.
Congrats to all the winners this week, seeing the sheer elation at the hard work is always a joy.
Shall we do it all again next year? Why not. Sithee then!
Galopin Des Champs stormed clear to win a dramatic Cheltenham Gold Cup from Bravemansgame.
The 7-5 favourite gave jockey Paul Townend and Willie Mullins, who triumphed twice with Al Boum Photo, their third win in five years.
Conflated was third after Ahoy Senor and Hewick, who had both looked in contention at one stage, had falls.
It came down to a duel with Galopin Des Champs coming out on top up the hill to win by seven lengths.
And that, friends, brings the curtain down on the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
It's over! Aaargh. We've got those feelings like you get at the end of a music festival - exhilarated, exhausted, emotional.
But before we go, let's return to the headline story...
Here's how the final day panned out...
13:30 - JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 179y - LOSSIEMOUTH (11/8 F)
14:10 - County Handicap Hurdle 2m 179y - FAIVOIR (33-1)
14:50 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 2m 7f 213y - STAY AWAY FAY (18-1)
15:30 - Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 3m 2f 70y - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (7-5 F)
16:10 - St James's Place Challenge Cup 3m 2f 70y - PREMIER MAGIC (66-1)
16:50 - The Liberthine Mares' Chase 2m 62y - IMPERVIOUS (15-8)
17:30 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y - IROKO (6-1)
Willie Mullins has just picked up the trophy for the Festival's best trainer, alongside his wife Jackie. He had six winners and has 94 in total - can he become the first to hit 100 next year... in the Gold Cup's 100th year?
Winning trainer Josh Guerriero, speaking to Racing TV: "Unbelievable. What a tough horse. He didn't look like he was going to win turning in but he galloped and galloped. He flew up the hill."
1 Iroko (A P Kelly) 6-1
2 No Ordinary Joe (Luca Morgan) 14-1
3 Buddy One (Jack G Gilligan) 28-1
4 Might I (Lorcan Murtagh) 6-1
21 ran
Proud moment for joint-trainers Oliver Greenhall and Josh Guerriero, who both land their first Festival wins.
A tight one to call for second place. Looks like No Ordinary Joe nosed it.
Heck of a run from deep!
Iroko, a 6-1 shot, times the finish up the hill to perfection.
Top ride from Aidan Kelly who got the improving five-year-old back on course after he initially started to veer left.
Between Buddy One, No Ordinary Joe and Iroko as they sprint down the straight...
Anyone's game this one. Three hurdles to go. Buddy One takes over but there are about a dozen in with a chance here.
The Cheltenham track is glistening like the Wimbledon Centre Court turf in the setting sun. Beautiful.
The field go down the back straight with Hollow Sound still setting the pace.
West To The Bridge and Hollow Sound are keen. They lead the field.
The starters' flag goes down for the final time at the Cheltenham Festival this year... *sobs*
Imagine it is only the hardcore racing fans (and connections) left at Cheltenham as the course basks in a beautiful evening glow.
Everyone in the big field appear to be in check as they assemble at the top of the track.
Gordon Elliott has two wins in this race and will fancy his chances of adding to that with six runners this time.
Imagine is the most likely to challenge having developed a strong profile for this type of race. Other possibilities include Spanish Harlem and Iroko.
This isn't an easy race for the punters, however, with 10 of the 14 winners having ran under double odds.
The good news? We have got one more race to go. Yay!
The bad news? It is the final race of the 2023 Festival. Sad times.
If anyone out there is relying on this for a magnificent seven - especially after the earlier win for 66-1 shot Premier Magic - then we'll give you the money ourselves...
Colm Murphy, winning trainer of Impervious, speaking to Racing TV: "Fantastic. There were plenty of questions she had to answer and she did it. She is a tough lady and answers every question we ask her.
"She is tough and stays at it well."
Jockey Brian Hayes, speaking to Racing TV about riding Impervious to victory: "She winged the first, winged the second and then just lit up. I just about had it in her. Any slower and we would have been going forward even more.
"She jumps brilliantly. She had to be really clever today, go right into the bottom of it. Pure guts. She puts her head down, ears back and she just wants it.
"She is a class act. She has scope and power and commits to it. This is different gravy. Winning here is amazing."
