Ferns Lock has been game but surely can't hold on after the antics before the start.

Six fences to go and the enthusiastic Ferns Lock still sets the pace.

The field is more tightly bunched now, though.

The struggling From The Heart has pulled up.

From The Heart is struggling. Looks your money is going down the drain if you've backed that one.

Ferns Lock extends the lead to about three lengths, with Shantou Flyer and Time Leader behind, as they pass the main stand.

Ferns Lock leads the field over the first half-dozen fences, but is still very keen and making mistakes.

Help is called to get Ferns Lock settled and that does the trick.

He joins the rest of the crew, having expended a hell of a lot of nervous energy.

Jockey Darren Andrew smiles as he takes Quintin's Man for a peer down the camera lens.

The stage is set for this show-horse.

Ferns Lock is taking time to settle, darting around all over the place, well away from the rest.

Image source, Getty Images

After the big race, the amateur jockeys get their chance over the Gold Cup fences.

And following his two wins in the week’s earlier amateur races, Derek O’Connor will look to make it three from three with Its On The Line, trained by Emmet Mullins, last year’s runner-up.

Billaway, the 2022 and Ferns Lock who have both finished second to Its On The Line this season, go up against him again. The latter will hope to give Northern Ireland trainer David Christie his first Cheltenham win.

Last year’s winner Premier Magic will aim to retain his title. Last year he won at 66-1 but his odds are much shorter this time around.

There is no time to revel long in victory at this place. We've got three races to go, starting with the Hunters' Chase...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Winning trainer Willie Mullins on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It feels a bit overwhelming to win the 100th Gold Cup.

"The week has been so good, the horses have done well, the jockeys have ridden well. It is like a perfect storm.

"We were sitting at home last week and I turned around to Patrick (Mullins' son) and some of the others from the team and said 'is it me or is everything going eerily well'. They all looked at each other and said it was.

"Preparations had gone perfectly. We knew it could be a hell of a week and it has worked out like that."

Image source, PA Media

Willie Mullins raises two fingers in the air as he jointly lifts the Gold Cup with Paul Townend.

A V for Victory!

Mullins becomes the first trainer to saddle two different two-time champions in jump racing's blue riband event.

The other? Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020.

These are the kind of scenes which the jump racing fraternity dream about every night in the lead-up to Cheltenham.

The connections of Galopin Des Champs are living the dream.

Clamorous cheers ring in the ears of Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and the owners as they collect their prizes from the Princess Royal.

The Turley family come together for a photo which will be printed out and go straight on the mantelpiece.

Image source, Getty Images

Gold Cup-winning trainer Willie Mullins, speaking to ITV Sport: "I think he just put himself into the superstar category, to do what he did and the way he did it with the loose horse.

"We will come back and try to win it for a third time. He has the ability to do it.

"He gave us no concern really, it was the loose horse which was the one concern.

"He hit one fence early, third or fourth, but after that it was very easy. Paul got him into position and he was travelling easily."

A pair of Gold Cups for Galopin Des Champs is a great achievement.

Three of a kind would be a heck of a hand.

No horse has done that since Best Mate between 2002 and 2004, with Arkle previously doing it in the 1960s.

Cottage Rake is the only other horse to do a Gold Cup treble since the Second World War.

Winning owner Audrey Turley on BBC Radio 5 Live: "We are so happy and excited. It is just fantastic.

"He is a fantastic horse. 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."

A huge roar as Paul Townend stands up in the saddle, lifting his arms aloft with Galopin Des Champs underneath.

The jockey kisses the television camera as he dismounts before his charge gets a well-earned slurp of water.

If someone could bottle up the emotion and noise as the Gold Cup winner returns home they would be a millionaire.

An amazing atmosphere as Galopin Des Champs is led back to the winners' enclosure.

Goosebumps everywhere. And that's nothing to do with the temperature.

Winning jockey Paul Townend, speaking to ITV Sport: "Unbelievable. We had to go through his reserves.

"I rode him completely different to last year and he was so brave for me. I was afraid we didn't have enough but it's the Gold Cup so we had to go for it.

"What makes him a champion? His heart probably. We had to go through reserves which only special horses have."

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The loose horse added spice to proceedings but Galopin Des Champs is a supreme champion.

Paul Townend made a fantastic move. He pushed Jack Kennedy back behind the loose horse as they came down the hill. He didn't want him to get out then.

Paul Townend is a big race rider at the top of his game and it was a smooth ride and plain sailing. He kept things simple.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Townend looks up to the heavens and roars his delight.

A gutsy ride, a brilliant run.

Galopin Des Champs writes his name into Cheltenham immortality, becoming only the third horse this century to retain the Gold Cup.