Galopin Des Champs bounced back to his brilliant best and after filling the runner-up spot in the last two renewals of the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, he finally added this Grade 1 prize to his illustrious CV.

Surprisingly beaten into second by Inothewayurthinkin at Cheltenham last month, the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was expected to get back to winning ways today, going off the 5/6 favourite in the colours of Greg and Audrey Turley.

Making all under Paul Townend, the now 12-time Grade 1 winner had his three rivals in trouble from four out and galloped on relentlessly to the line, with 22-lengths the margin of victory.

After blundering four out, Spillane's Tower (4/1) finished second under Mark Walsh for Jimmy Mangan, while Monty's Star was another two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third.

Just as he did at Cheltenham, Banbridge again disappointed, trailing home in rear, 23-lengths behind the third.

"He was back to his best. He was fantastic jumping, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him," Mullins, who was completing a four-timer on the day.

"To win that race by 22-lengths is awesome.

"Paul said he wasn't taking no for an answer at any stage, he was going to put them to the sword and he did.

"I thought he was more at home today. I was a little bit worried about the heat and the weather, I'd imagine the other trainers were too.

"You could see from the start he was enjoying himself, there was a spark in him from jumping off.

"He had a look at the road, of gate or something. Paul said to me when he was able to do that he felt that he was only playing in front.

"When he got to the top of the hill he said 'let's go a little faster and put them under more pressure'. He felt when he had time to do that sort of thing he was really going at his ease.

"He's a very good horse, he has to be one of the best chasers we've ever had.

On coming back to Punchestown he added: "Good horses deserve to run in good races and good races deserve to have the good horses as do big meetings like Punchestown, there are none bigger at this stage of the season.

"Cheltenham was Cheltenham and we were beaten but horses get beaten. At least he's come back and proved that he's a real good horse.

"There is always next year and he's only nine coming ten. He's still young enough to go and have another go but we're talking about today, not last month, and we’re happy to be here today.

"We're happy that the horse has come home from Cheltenham and done this. A lot of people don't bring their horses back from Cheltenham but I think 'let’s have a crack' as it's good racing and good for the sport."

On his Punchestown record, he added: "That doesn't matter. You’ve got to run the good horses in good races and never be afraid to be beaten, I’m not anyway."

Townend, who was completing a quick Grade 1 double, said: "As I said earlier, we were disappointed in Cheltenham, but in hindsight he ran a huge race to get as far as he did the feel I was getting off him.

"I got into a good rhythm here early enough and he started taking me over fences. To be honest it wasn't my finest moment at the last because I had the revs up and we were fairly long and I probably changed my mind. He figured it out for me and got me out of trouble.

"I met Willie briefly in the parade ring and all he said is jump him out and get him going. It's simple, he's so easy to ride, he is so measured at his fences and if he goes, it's just so straightforward on him.

"That's as simple as it is riding him, you don't have to look for the others, you just ride your own horse and if they go by you, they are fair horses.

"We are very, very lucky to have him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson