Paul Townend wins Irish Gold Cup on Willie Mullins' trained Galopin Des Champs

Galopin Des Champs defended the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Legendary Paul Townend guided the horse who is now odds on to claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Willie Mullins' trained gem bagged the race in stunning fashion as he lead the race from start to finish.

The’ 1-3 favourite won from his old rival Fastorslow, who never let the winner get too far in front.

Galopin Des Champs is now 4-6 to repeat his Cheltenham success in March.

Mullins said: “It was a terrific performance. He did it the hard way, out in front and jumped from fence to fence.

“He didn’t wait around for anyone and did everything right. Paul was very happy with him.

“He set his own pace, which is hard to do on soft ground. Paul made sure that he was going to go fast enough and try to suck the energy out of the ones behind, which he did.

He went on: “We thought Conflated might make the running, but from the early stages we knew that wasn’t the way. Paul just had to grab the race by the horns, he did and it worked out.

“I thought for a minute from the fifth-last to the third-last that J J Slevin’s body language was looking very good and he was confident in the horse he was riding.

“When Paul poured a little bit on and got a great jump at the second-last you could see the distress signals coming out and Paul was still happy. He was able to dictate in front.

“Gold Cups are always important and it’s nice to win another one for Greg and Audrey (Turley, owners). It’s tremendous prize-money and a tremendous day here in Leopardstown.

“Some people think it’s a trial for Cheltenham, but for me it’s a race in its own right. They need to be respected and raced for. I bring my best horses here to do that.

“I thought I’d never have a horse good enough to run in the race, never mind win it different years, but that’s the way the thing has grown and we’re very lucky.”

Townend was delighted after the win.

He said: “It was unfortunate in the earlier races, I was just on the wrong ones, but he was the big bullet and he’s hit the bullseye.

“I thought he took his fences on well, but for Gold Cup horses we went a bit of a dawdle. When I finally asked him he took them on well.

“I was a little slow at four out, but he jumped well down the back and I didn’t want to set him alight too early.

“At the last we were tight to it, quickening up, but he shortened into it and he’s an intelligent horse. “I was delighted with him, I couldn’t knock him in any way.”