By CHELTENHAM, England, March 17 (Reuters) – Galopin Des Champs pulled away to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, earning a third success in five years for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.
The 7-5 favourite finished ahead of Bravemansgame (6-1) in second and Conflated (22-1) in third.
Ahoy Senor led for several jumps before suffering a heavy fall with six fences to go, forcing last year’s winner A Plus Tard and jockey Rachael Blackmore off their line.
“It wasn’t plain sailing, that’s for sure,” Townend, who won twice on Al Boum Photo, told ITV racing.
“Everywhere I went there was a bit of trouble, his jumping just got a bit careful for the first circuit but going out I had full faith in him that he was going to get me out of trouble and he did.”
Editing by Toby Davis
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