2023 Gold Cup Result - Galopin Des Champs wins at Cheltenham

The talking horse going into this year's Gold Cup was Galopin Des Champs, who went off as the 6/4 favourite for Willie Mullins. Defending champion, A Plus Tard had been backed into second-favouritism during the build-up, with Paul Nicholls' runner Bravemansgame also coming in for support.

Each-way backers came for Ahoy Senor on the day of the race, backing Lucinda Russell's star into fourth favouritism. Mark Walsh and Davy Russell had to be stood down before the race, with Nico De Boinville and Sam Ewing coming in to ride Minella Indo and Conflated respectively.

Ahoy Senor pulled himself into an early lead, but found a nice rhythm at the head of the field. Protektorat, Hewick and Bravemansgame took a prominent position behind the leader. Paul Townend was happy to bide his time on Galopin Des Champs at the rear of the field.

Stattler was the first to crack, pulling up before the end of the first circuit. Minella Indo cried enough soon after that, with both getting badly outpaced. Having jumped beautifully beforehand, Ahoy Senor made a telling mistake at the four-last and came crashing to the canvas, a spill which also brought Sounds Russian crashing to the ground.

Hewick, who had inherited the lead, took a nasty fall of his own at the third-last, leaving Protektorat in the lead. Turning for home, Bravemansgame was angled out by Harry Cobden, but there was Paul Townend breathing down his neck. Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame then battle it out up the Cheltenham hill. Try as he might, Paul Nicholls runner just couldn't match Galopin Des Champs change of gear after the last and the favourite strode clear to seal an emphatic victory.

Bravemansgame crossed the line second ahead of Gordon Elliott's Conflated. Noble Yeats stayed on up the hill to place fourth ahead of Protektorat. A Plus Tard was pulled up before the second-last but thankfully he, and the falls, all came home unscathed.

2023 Gold Cup Replay