GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and Paul Townend powered clear of Bravemansgame to justify favouritism and land the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, giving Willie Mullins jump-racing’s blue-riband event for a third time in five years.
In an eventful renewal, Ahoy Senor set a searching gallop until getting too close to the sixth fence from home and crumpling on landing.
Townend had bided his time, tracking the early pace before getting into contention coming down the hill, tailing Protektorat, Bravemansgame and Hewick, who had been left in front.
He crashed through the third-last, which almost cost him the race, but quickly recovered and by the time American Grand National hero Hewick had come to grief two out, Irish Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs had gone upsides Harry Cobden and the Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame.
A dominant week for the Irish! 😁 ☘️
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Happy St Patrick's Day! #PrestburyCup#CheltenhamFestival | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/OUFCrFTCKU
Both jumped the last on a good stride, but the King George winner could not find the same turn of foot as Townend drew clear.
Galopin Des Champs (7-5 favourite) had seven lengths to spare at the line, with Conflated a further sixth and a half lengths down in third.
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