Galopin Des Champs (left) is set to make his move as The Big Dog falls at the second-last © Photo Healy Racing
Sent off at 30/100, Galopin Des Champs was strong on the run-in as he landed the odds in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup under Paul Townend.
The latter bided his time in a steadily-run affair and Galopin Des Champs raced in touch in fifth three out before moving into a close third after The Big Dog departed at the next.
Pushed along to challenge Fury Road on straightening up, the winner was a close second when the hard-ridden Fury Road jumped left and pecked at the last.
At that point Galopin Des Champs took over in front and stayed on strongly in the final furlong to score by eight lengths as Fury Road could find no more. The winner's stablemate Stattler kept on to grab second close home.
It was a third Grade One winner in a row on the afternoon for Willie Mullins who said: "He was very professional and Paul was happy where he was throughout the race.
“He was happy that he was settled coming through. He said after the race that he had plenty in the tank and he was never worried at any time during the race about where he was.
“He seemed to gallop away through the line. He looks a real good horse.
“Hopefully we can build on that now over an extra two furlongs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (7/4 fav from 11/8 with Paddy Power).
“I was amazed that the press were doubting the fact that he had never won over three miles over fences. He had won over three miles as a novice over hurdles which is way harder than doing it over fences. To me he can go four miles.
“What I love about him now is that he's settling, he's not keen and Paul is able to put him wherever he wants him in a race. That's crucial for tactics going forward.
“He used to be a little keen over shorter trips but now he just settles and he's able to put him asleep.
“I think it's just maturity, he's matured in his mind and he's settling into being a proper racehorse.
“We're more relaxed training him now, we know he has gears. I was always confident that he'd stay and we probably don't do as much speed work with him nowadays.
“We've had some fabulous horses win the Gold Cup here. This fella is making a name for himself, he's still young in steeplechasing terms and where he'll be at the end of his career, we'll see. It's all going forward at the moment anyway.
“A lot of people skip this race to go for Cheltenham but for me any day you can win an Irish Gold Cup it needs to be done.
“There is a nice time frame from now until Cheltenham, we're going to celebrate and enjoy today.
“It's all about getting there now. I suppose Conflated didn't appear here today, he's going to go to Cheltenham a little bit fresher but we're probably going to go there a little bit fitter and it's all to play for.
“We have this in the bag and we're very happy to have won an Irish Gold Cup with him.
“The track is in excellent order and I haven't seen Leopardstown looking as well for four or five years. They have presented it in terrific order.”
Townend said of the winner: "I'm probably getting to know him a bit better with that way of racing compared to as a novice. I loved the feel I got from the back of the last to the line.
"He winged fences when I wanted him to but I'm still learning about him and I'm afraid to set him alight in case he gets too exuberant. But I can ask him now and he'll go down and dance at the next, he's professional.
"I had to wake him up going to the last. Davy's went a bit left going to it which wasn't ideal but I felt I had Davy well covered. When I gave him a slap what I felt underneath me was nice.
"Things didn't go to plan earlier but the beauty when you're riding for Willie is that was forgotten. We headed out in the Arkle, that didn't go to plan either but this lad made up for it. When you're riding for this man you always have a chance of a winner."
Of runner-up Stattler, Mullins added: "He ran a cracker, I thought he was going to fade out of it but he stayed on again to be second. I think Patrick has booked his ride in Cheltenham.
"Ronnie (Bartlett) was very happy with that and we're all very happy with how he ran.
“He was up there, jumping fantastic, and making the running. It was a hard thing to do and then stay on again to be second, it was a great run.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
