'He just looked fantastic' - Galopin Des Champs gallops rivals into submission

Galopin Des Champs did not enter spring as Willie Mullins' most exciting staying novice chase prospect for next season, but he is now coming out of it as that.

Now 8-1 clear favourite with both Ladbrokes and Paddy Power to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Monkfish by winning the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, Galopin Des Champs produced a performance right out of the top drawer to topple two other festival winners from last month.

It is only 80 days since Galopin Des Champs was sent off at 100-1 at the Dublin Racing Festival. He was only sixth to Appreciate It in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, but he has turned inside out in the last two and a half months and backed up his Martin Pipe victory at Cheltenham with an even more emphatic one here.

Paul Townend, who was stretching his lead over Rachael Blackmore to six in the jockeys' championship, was in cruise control throughout and coasted to a 12-length success over Gentlemansgame with Stattler back in third.

Townend said: "That was very straightfoward and he has a lovely temperament for those sort of races. He jumps super and he will jump a fence if you want him to. He has loads of options.

"It went like clockwork. The race worked out the way I thought it might and it was just a case of staying on his back to be honest with you. He'll have no bother jumping a fence and it's lovely to be back riding the likes of him."

Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend are clear and coasting for home at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins admitted that the Stayers' Hurdle could be an option for Galopin Des Champs next season, but his gut instinct is to head straight over fences.

The trainer said: "He looked very smart today. Getting up to three miles he just looked fantastic. When Paul gave him a squeeze going to the third-last he just took off and the race was over coming into the last bend."

"He's very slick over hurdles and Paul said he could be a Stayers' candidate next season. However, I like going chasing quickly, but we'll have that conversation in the summer once he's finished. I wouldn't mind going chasing with him anyhow."

Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier got tapped for toe at a crucial stage of the race, but he stayed on to take fourth ahead of Telmesomethinggirl – the third festival winner in a quality line-up – who was not in the same sort of form as her Mares' Novices' Hurdle victory last month.

This was all about Galopin Des Champs. We are getting giddy about the prospect of seeing him in a beginners chase next autumn or winter.

Full result, replay and analysis

Read more from Punchestown:

First for O'Connor and 10th for Mullins as Kilcruit cruises to Champion Bumper

'The stuff of dreams' – Clan Des Obeaux upsets the Irish in Punchestown Gold Cup

Tables turned as Paul Nicholls and team are rewarded for bold move

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