Galopin Des Champs wins Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival
It's a big result after also winning the prestigious race last year
Last updated 15th Mar 2024
Galopin Des Champs is the winner of this year's world-famous Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
It's a big result after also winning the prestigious race last year, and this year is the 100th anniversary of the Gold Cup.
Having answered stamina doubts 12 months ago, the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs was ridden much handier this time by Paul Townend, as the last two Brown Advisory Novices' Chase winners, The Real Whacker and L'Homme Presse, set the pace.
Mullins said: "I think he just put himself in the superstar category - to do what he did and the way he did it.
"The loose horse was there and Paul was just so positive on him. Hopefully we can come back next year to win a third one - he has the ability to do it and we just have to stay sound, I think."
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."
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.
100 years of the Gold Cup
Although a race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup had existed in the past as a three-mile Flat race in the 19th century, the Cheltenham Gold Cup as we know it was born in 1924.
Over the years there have been some memorable moments:
1924 - The very first Gold Cup, won by Red Splash.
1932-1936 - Golden Miller won the race 5 years back to back in the 1930s
2002-2004 - It was 3 wins over 3 years for legendary horse Best Mate, who was later inducted into the Cheltenham Racecourse Hall of Fame in 2007.
2022 - The first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, Rachael Blackmore, rode to victory on A Plus Tard.
2023 - Last year saw Galopin Des Champs win the Gold Cup
2024 - Galopin Des Champs successfully defends his title to retain the Gold Cup on the 100th anniversary.