Andrew Thornton
Former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

You need luck in running in this race. Rachael Blackmore didn't have it this year on A Plus Tard. She got impeded but Paul Townend manoeuvred himself around the obstacle and went on to win.

Image source, Getty Images

Audrey Turley, owner of Galopin Des Champs, speaking to ITV Racing: "It is a dream come true. We never thought we would be here. It is such a wonderful horse. We are just so thrilled. The excitement has been high all week.

"I don't know what to say or what to think. It is so unbelievable and wonderful. We have to thank Willie Mullins and the wonderful team, we wouldn't be here without them."

First hand to shake when Paul Townend comes off the horse? Willie Mullins.

Half a step behind is owner Audrey Turley, who is also overcome with emotion.

This is it. This is the pinnacle for the connections. This is history.

Feels like someone has just plugged Cheltenham into the grid. The electricity down trackside is quite something.

Paul Townend amps it up further as Galopin Des Champs is lead to the winners' enclosure, waving both arms in the air as he urges the delirious punters for more noise.

Calmness on the track. A well-deserved emotional release as he goes off it.

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Winning jockey Paul Townend, speaking to ITV Racing: "It wasn't clean sailing that is for sure! Everywhere I went I was running into trouble. A proper, proper horse because he ran three different races and still won a Gold Cup.

"I was delighted to see it all going on in front of me. It gave me a chance to fill him up after making up a lot of ground.

"This race is just different. It brings winning to a different level."

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

What a scintillating performance. Paul Townend rode Galopin Des Champs with superb confidence. People questioned his stamina but there are no questions to answer now.

This horse has superstar status - he can do it all. He has a mixture of pace and stamina and is a wonderful horse. We have got a supreme champion here.

Emotion gets the better of Paul Townend as he speaks to ITV.

His voice cracks and he's fighting back the tears.

No, you're crying!

High fives from Paul Townend to one of his stable staff as the out-of-breath winning jockey contemplates what he has just achieved.

A stunning ride.

1 Galopin Des Champs (Paul Townend) 7-5 Fav

2 Bravemansgame (Harry Cobden) 6-1

3 Conflated (Sam Ewing) 22-1

13 ran

He's done it!! What a performance from the favourite Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend!!

"As brilliant a ride as I've ever seen," says AP McCoy.

High, high praise.

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Galopin Des Champs is coming on strong, Bravesmangame trying to hold off the challenge...

Hewick falls at the last!

Five up top - including Galopin Des Champs - going into the last...

A Plus Tard has pulled up!

Protektorat takes over at the front. Looks like A Plus Tard was badly hit in the fall by Ahoy Senor...

Six fences to go... leader Ahoy Senor goes down!! Oh my.

Down the straight in front of the grandstand, a deafening roar from the packed grandstand gives an adrenalin boost.

Ahoy Senor continues to show us the way...

Not even done a circuit and Stattler - trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Mullins - pulls up.

Ahoy Senor is still leading from the front. Minella Indo, the 2021 winner, is also struggling to keep up with this fair pace.

Stattler is finding the pace hard and drops way back.

Galopin Des Champs right at the back, for now.