Galopin Des Champs came through his pre-Christmas assignment in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown with flying colours.
Last seen winning at Fairyhouse in April having fallen at the final fence at the Cheltenham Festival with the Turners Novices’ Chase at his mercy, his reappearance had been eagerly anticipated.
Willie Mullins breathed a huge sigh of relief when the meeting was rescheduled after originally being lost to the weather, and in truth there was very little alarm for the 2-9 market leader once the race had started.
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite was settled in mid-division by Paul Townend as Lifetime Ambition led the field along, before he breezed to the head of affairs over two furlongs out.
Without being asked a serious question the six-year-old careered away to win by 13 lengths from Fakir D’oudairies, who is himself a Grade One winner.
Betfair and Paddy Power cut the winner to 7-4 from 5-2 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, while he is a best-priced 2-1 with some firms.
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