Galopin Des Champs has won Britain's most prestigious jumps race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, for the second year in succession to complete a glorious week for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

Ridden again by Irish jockey Paul Townend, the 11-10 favourite burst over the last of the 22 fences and galloped clear with only loose horse Fastorslow for company on Friday.

Gerri Colombe was second with Corach Rambler in third.

"Unbelievable. We had to go through his reserves," Townend said. "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."

Mullins racked up his record 100th Cheltenham winner earlier in the festival and says the eight-year-old Galopin Des Champs will attempt to complete the treble next year.

"He's put himself in the superstar category, to do what he did, the way he did it," Mullins, who celebrated his fourth Gold Cup win, said.

"Paul was so positive on him, I think we have to come back and go for a third win next year."

Only two horses since 2000 have returned to defend their Gold Cup crown, Best Mate in 2004 and Al Boum Photo, also trained by Mullins and ridden by Townend, in 2020.