Galopin Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, has won the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Mullins celebrated his 100th Cheltenham Festival winner this week, and saw his Gold Cup favourite claim win No.103 with a second successive triumph in Cheltenham's showpiece on Friday afternoon.
Earlier the same duo had celebrated a 12-1 winner with Absurde got the better of LâEau Du Sud in the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle.
Sam Ewing and Stellar Story pounced in the very last stride to inflict Albert Bartlett Novicesâ Hurdle agony on The Jukebox Man, handing young rider Ewing not only a first Cheltenham Festival success, but also a maiden strike at Grade One level.
Majborough announced himself as a star of the future as he toughed it out to land a Mullins dominated JCB Triumph Hurdle in the day's opener.
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Cheltenham Festival is done and dusted.
It was a good one for Willie Mullins, who dominated from start to finish and won the Gold Cup earlier today with Galopin Des Champs.
Thanks for following along.
Paul Townend and Willie Mullins with the Gold Cup (BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)13:30: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) - MAJBOROUGH
14:10: BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) - ABSURDE
14:50: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - STELLAR STORY
15:30: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
16:10: St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - SINE NOMINE
16:50: Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase - LIMERICK LACE
17:30: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - BETTER DAYS AHEAD
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Better Days Ahead takes the final race of the day, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle!
1 Better Days Ahead (D J Gilligan) 5-1
2 Waterford Whispers (M P O'Connor) 10-3 Fav
3 Quai De Bourbon (M J M O'Sullivan) 4-1
4 Answer To Kayf (J P Shinnick) 10-1
After some difficulties at the start line, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle has begun.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 SONIGINO, 2 QUAI DE BOURBON, 3 WHAT’S UP DARLING
SONIGINO is capable of rewarding each-way bets - at the very least - in the meeting’s finale.
To come home in front under rising star Freddie Gingell, the Paul Nicholls-saddled seven-year-old must leave behind a lacklustre ninth to Jay Jay Reilly in Kempton Park’s Lanzarote Hurdle in mid-January. But there are several reasons for thinking he can do just that.
An unlucky-in-running third at Aintree’s Grand National fixture in April, my selection built on a return-to-the-fray bronze medal at Chepstow in October to run fourth to Iberico Lord in the two-mile Greatwood Handicap Hurdle here the following month.
Sonigino built on that for a six-length score from Prince Zaltar back over an additional half mile at Aintree in November and, if one forgives his Kempton no-show, he’s a player here.
At the end of a momentous week for Willie Mullins, Quai De Bourbon is sure to have his supporters, while What’s Up Darling, Waterford Whispers and Answer To Kayf are three more names to throw into the melting pot.
There's one last race for you today, and it's the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
Waterford Whispers is the 3/1 favourite with, while you can get 9/2 on Quai De Bourbon and 7/1 on Better Days Ahead.
Limerick Lace takes it!
Winning trainer Gavin Cromwell, speaking to Racing TV: "She showed a bit of heart. I'm delighted for Keith [Donoghue], who is a big part of team. He gave her a lovely ride, turned it into a good test.
"She stayed going well, she was genuine and in front from a long way out. She showed guts and determination."
1 Limerick Lace (K M Donoghue) 3-1
2 Dinoblue (M P Walsh) 15-8 Fav
3 Marsh Wren (C Gethings) 28-1
The Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase is underway. It is the penultimate race of the Cheltenham Festival.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 LIMERICK LACE, 2 DINOBLUE, 3 ALLEGORIE DE VASSY
LIMERICK LACE is an improved performer in her second season over fences - and could have this race sewn up.
There was plenty of encouragement to be gleaned from the daughter of Walk In The Park’s novice campaign, which included victories at Down Royal and Naas at the start of last year.
And Gavin Cromwell’s seven-year-old has duly built on that, beginning with a 16-length supremacy in a mares’ chase at Clonmel in October.
On the strength of that performance, punters made Limerick Lace the 4-1 favourite for the ultra-competitive Troytown Handicap Chase over three miles at Navan in November and my selection emerged with plenty of credit with a second to Coko Beach.
Back against her own gender in a Listed chase over this afternoon’s two-and-a-half-mile trip at Doncaster two days before the turn of the year, Limerick Lace returned to winning form with a 10-length slamming of La Renommee, and another step forward will put Keith Donoghue’s mount in the firing line today. Willie Mullins’ pair Dinoblue and Allegorie De Vassy are feared most, ahead of the progressive Brides Hill.
The penultimate race of the day is the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Steeple Chase.
Dinoblue is the favourite with bet365 at 7/4, closely followed by Limerick Lace at 2/1 and Allegorie De Vassy at 7/2.
What a finish!
Ferns Lock faded with two fences to go and dropped way back, but there was a dramatic sprint finish between three horses before Sine Nomine came through to pip It's On The Line in second and Time Leader in third. The 8-1 outsider pipped the 11-8 favourite.
Winning jockey John Dawson, speaking to ITV Sport: "Just a phenomenal buzz. She's a lovely mare. She's come through and progressed all the time. We all believe in her. We're chuffed."
Ferns Lock is leading the pack after struggling to settle down for the start. Still 13 fences to go though.
Right, the Gold Cup is done. Next up: St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase.
It has just got underway.
Want the full lowdown on Galopin Des Champs' wonderful win in the Gold Cup?
Read the full report here.
Paul Townend rode Galopin Des Champs to victory (David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Galopin Des Champs' owner Audrey Turley has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live following the win.
"He is a fantastic horse," says Turley, who then goes on to join her family for the celebrations and trophy presentation.
"It isn't easy to win back to back Gold Cups.
"We couldn't be more thrilled and to do it on the 100th anniversary of the Gold Cup - what a moment."
Next up is the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase, with Its On the Line the 11-8 favourite with bet365.
Second-favourite is Ferns Lock at 10-3, followed by Billaway at 7-1.
That's two in a row for Galopin Des Champs.
Another accomplished win.
Galopin Des Champs winning the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Getty Images)NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 FERNS LOCK, 2 ITS ON THE LINE, 3 SINE NOMINE
FERNS LOCK has an excellent chance of giving trainer David Christie a first Cheltenham triumph.
Co Fermanagh-based Christie is a high achiever in the point-to-point and hunter chase world but has yet to taste victory at the home of jump racing - until now.
Three-time pointing winner Ferns Lock began his career in hunter chases with successes at Fairyhouse, Gowran Park and Thurles before making a costly error two out back in Co Meath saw him lose his unbeaten record with a third to Willie Mullins’ Annamix.
After a return-to-action score in a Dromahane point-to-point was followed by a half-length second to Its On The Line in a Down Royal hunter chase, and Ferns Lock hardly came out of second gear in a similar event at Thurles in January to set himself up for today.
There is a lot more to come from this seven-year-old, who can gain his revenge on the 2023 runner-up when it matters most. Premier Magic and Billaway, the last two winners of the amateurs’ Gold Cup, warrant a second look, along with Sine Nomine.
1st - Galopin Des Champs 10-11 FAV
2nd - Gerri Colombe 13-2
3rd - Corach Rambler 14-1
"Unvelievable," is Paul Townend's reaction. "He was just so brave for me."
When asked what makes him a champion, "His heart, probably."
Was there ever any doubt?
Galopin Des Champs was the hot favourite, and produced a patient race before moving clear in the final stages.
There might have been worries for jockey Paul Townend when a loose horse threatened to get in the way, but the reigning champion won again on the 100th birthday of the race.
You'll have a Gold Cup winner very soon.
Will it be a new name, or will we have a repeat winner?
Galopin Des Champs remains odds-on in search of back-to-back wins, but you can never rule out an upset.
Just a few minutes to go until the Gold Cup gets underway...
Galopin Des Champs remains the heavy favourite for the Gold Cup, with bet365 offering odds of 5-6.
You can back Gerri Colombe at 6-1, with Fastorslow available at 15-2.
The reigning champion and favourite Galopin des Champs has already accumulated more than £1million in prize money.
"He won the Gold Cup last year and he has the potential to be a great," AP McCoy tells ITV Sport.
Can anyone stop him?
Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham (PA)Cheltenham brings a wide array of individuals together, as you can see here.
Sir Alex Ferguson speaking with the Princess Royal at the Cheltenham Festival (PA)The former football manager's horse The Jukebox Man looked to have it in the bag.
It wasn't to be, though, with Stellar Story finishing like a train to take it home.
Readin Tommy Wrong went in as favourite for te Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but didn't come close.
The win goes to Stellar Story, who came from way back to pip The Jukebox Man on the line.
Racegoers at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (PA)
Absurde jumping the last at the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Getty Images)
