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Paul Townend understandably cannot wait to be reunited with Galopin Des Champ as the pair bid to land back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups.

An impressive winner of the Friday feature twelve months ago, Willie Mullins' star staying chaser returned to action when suffering an odds-on defeat to the reopposing Fastorslow in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in November.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old soon put the record straight when a facile winner of the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and followed that success up with another victory Paddy Power Gold Cup last month.

Expertly ridden by Paul Townend on all eight of his starts over fences, the County Cork-born jockey is looking forward to partnering Mullins' staying chaser in his bid to successfully defend his crown.

"It was disappointing to get beat in the John Durkan, but he was very good at Christmas and again at the Dublin Racing Festival," said Townend.

"People had doubts about him (last year) and you always have doubts I suppose when a horse runs in the Gold Cup – until they stay, they don't stay. We had confidence in him that he would stay, and he did.

"Like us all, he's getting older and wiser and a bit more laid-back and he's developed into the finished article.

"I'm looking forward to getting back on him and it's always exciting. I've had the horse underneath me (a few times) in the Gold Cup and you wouldn't be anywhere without the horses and the rub of the green."

Galopin Des Champs is a general 4/5 shot to retain his Gold Cup crown at Prestbury Park this afternoon.