Galopin Des Champs stormed to victory within the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown for the third 12 months working.
The 1-2 favorite, ridden by Paul Townend, comfortably noticed off the problem of eventual third Truth To File, whereas Grangeclare West grabbed second in a one-two-three for coach Willie Mullins.
Strains of ‘Ole, Ole, Ole’ broke out within the crowd to salute the treble winner.
“One thing that by no means earlier than occurred to me, after we had been leaping the final ditch, I may really feel and listen to the roar from the stands,” mentioned Townend.
Mullins mentioned: “He jumped and galloped for 3 miles and it did not seem like he was stopping coming as much as the successful submit. He is only a actual champion.
“He is the most effective chaser I’ve skilled and Hurricane Fly the most effective hurdler.”
Galopin Des Champs is now 4-6 favorite to observe up with a 3rd consecutive Cheltenham Gold cup triumph in March.
He joins Jodami and Beef Or Salmon as a triple Irish Gold Cup winner, and is one away from the document 4 victories of Florida Pearl, additionally skilled by Mullins.
Victory for Galopin Des Champs on day one of many Dublin Racing Competition was his eleventh profession success over fences and seventh at Leopardstown.
Final 12 months’s Triumph Hurdle victor Majborough was one other Grade One winner for Mullins, taking the Irish Arkle to stay on target for a gathering with Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino within the English model at Cheltenham.
Gavin Cromwell loved a double due to juvenile hurdler Good day Neighbour and Perceval Legallois, within the handicap hurdle, who’s now 20-1 from 33s for the Grand Nationwide at Aintree in April.
