Galopin Des Champs rediscovers championship-winning form to break Punchestown jinx
Despite going off the 8-13 favourite, he was thwarted by rising star Inothewayurthinkin who defeated him by six lengths. Trainer Willie Mullins gave Galopin Des Champs a chance to redeem himself in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on a track which had not been a happy hunting ground lately.
Paul Townend produces 'feat of horsemanship' to win Grade 1 for Willie Mullins with no irons
James Milner and Danny Welbeck's exciting racehorse to challenge for 2,000 Guineas
He had been beaten on his last three visits to the course, twice by Fastorslow and once in a race won by stablemate Fact To File. Galopin Des Champs faced three rivals in the latest renewal, including the King George VI Chase winner Banbridge.
Jockey Paul Townend took him straight to the front and Galopin Des Champs drew further and further away from his opponents, winning by 22 lengths to claim his 15 Grade 1 victory, producing the performance of a chasing great.
'We are very, very fortunate to have him,' said the winning jockey. 'Obviously we were very disappointed coming away from Cheltenham.
'The reception he gets his special and we are just lucky to be a part of it. He's a unique horse.'
Galopin Des Champs gave Townend his only scare when jinking at the road crossing and producing a scruffy jump at the last.
'It wouldn't be like him at all but the fact he done it meant he was doing things easy enough,' Townend said. 'In fairness he gave me plenty of warning. After that he got in a good rhythm and enjoyed it.
'He was taking me today whereas I was trying to hang in there in Cheltenham. He wasn't right in Cheltenham and thankfully it didn't leave a huge mark on him which it could have with the effort he put in.
'He got me out of trouble at the last, there's no lying about it. He's all class."
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