BOOKIES were pasted as 7-5 fav Galopin Des Champs won an action-packed Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend were left in dreamland as their stable star pounded away up the famous hill.
GettyTownend celebrates winning the Gold Cup on Galopin Des Champs[/caption]
GettyPunters were in clover as huge fav Galopin Des Champs roared up the hill to the delight of fans[/caption]
GettyThe horse confirmed his absolute superstar qualities with a thumping Gold Cup victory[/caption]
But it was a chaotic race as Hewick, Sounds Russian and Ahoy Senor all fell.
Fortunately all the horses got back on their feet and the jockeys were OK as well.
Speaking of Townend’s masterclass in the saddle, AP McCoy said: “Oh my God. Talk about pressure. What a ride.”
Sir Alex Ferguson looked in with a shout of victory as his horse Protektorat battled for the lead late on.
But as he faded Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame took charges as Galopin Des Champs loomed large.
He pinged to the front at the last and left them all trailing behind as he hit overdrive to land the £350,000 first-place prize in style.
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Townend said: “I was delighted to see them all going at it in front of me.
“This race is just different. It brings winning to a different level.”
Bravemansgame clung on for second at 6-1 while 22-1 Conflated came third.
The victory was sweet redemption for Galopin Des Champs after he famously knuckled on landing and unseated Townend in the Turners just 12 months ago.
That proved a one-off though, with the superstar chaser untouchable since then, never really being challenged in his next three wins.
There were doubts over his stamina here but he proved all the naysayers wrong with an absolutely thumping charge to the post.
Runner-up Cobden suggested it will be a hell of a challenge to beat the horse next year after he was made 11-8 to win it again next year.
Cobden, who earlier landed a big winner on Stay Away Fay, said: “I”m thinking about how we’re going to come back next year and beat him!”
Top trainer Mullins said: “I didn’t realise how much pressure was on till the third last – he flew it then I thought I knew what’s going to happen!
“Through the race we were wondering if he was too far back.
“I told Paul to settle him, I told him you have the best horse, the fastest horse, you ride him from the second last home.
“Paul is so good under pressure. I’ve been putting him under a fair bit of pressure this week!
“I’m just delighted he did what he did.”
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