sport news Galopin Des Champs wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup for Willie Mullins trends now Galopin Des Champs wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup for Willie Mullins as Paul Townend produces a brilliant ride to edge Bravemansgame after defending champion A Plus Tard was pulled up in pulsating race By Julian Bovill For Mailonline Published: 15:39 GMT, 17 March 2023 | Updated: 15:55 GMT, 17 March 2023 Viewcomments Favourite Galopin Des Champs has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a brilliant ride by Paul Townend. In a pulsating edition of the week's showpiece race, Galopin Des Champs avoided the carnage that forced two of the horses to pull up and another number to fall at two fences. With Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame, trained by Paul Nicholls, going at it hammer and tong heading into the final two fences, the eventual winner avoided the mistake it made in last year's Turner's Novices' Chase which allowed Bob Olinger to claim victory. Capping what has been another brilliant week for Willie Mullins at Cheltenham, Galopin Des Champs lived up to its pre-race favouritism in the market. There had been serious questions hanging over the head of Galopin about whether he had the stamina to last the trip, with Mullins insisting he was ready to win the Gold Cup. With a masterful ride by Townend, those questions were swiftly abolished as he hanged back and waited for his moment. Executing the break at the perfect time, Galopin Des Champs accelerated into the final straight and won by a few clear lengths, showing a turn of foot that Bravemansgame simply does not possess. Audrey Turley, owner of Galopin Des Champs, speaking to ITV Racing said: 'It is a dream come true. We never thought we would be here. It is such a wonderful horse. We are just so thrilled. The excitement has been high all week. 'I don't know what to say or what to think. It is so unbelievable and wonderful. We have to thank Willie Mullins and the wonderful team, we wouldn't be here without them.' Claiming his third Gold Cup, a usually calm and collected Townend was visibly emotional having passed the finishing post. The pressure on the Irishman had been immense in the build up, with criticism over a few of his rides in the days prior. Bravemansgame followed in second, while Conflated, trained by Gordon Elliott, produced a brilliant run off a fair pre-race price to finish third. Last year's Grand National hero Noble Yeats finished fourth, opening the possibility for another assault on Aintree in around a month's time. Defending champion, running for Henry de Bromhead with fan favourite Rachael Blackmore on board, was pulled up after falling behind following Ahoy Senor's fall just a few fences out from the finish. In what would have been a true fairytale, A Plus Tard rarely looked like troubling the front pack and those that had expressed concerns over its lack of run in recent months were seemingly vindicated. More follows. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility