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Seven-time Irish champion jockey Paul Townend has admitted it would be "hard to get off" Galopin Des Champs when the 10 year old attempts to become just the second horse in history to reclaim the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Townend was aboard Willie Mullins ' star chaser when he captured the prestigious race at Prestbury Park with a seven-length victory over Bravemansgame in 2023, before successfully retaining his title 12 months later to become the eighth horse to win the race more than once. He entered last year's contest as an odds-on favourite to secure a hat-trick of victories, but was beaten by Gavin Cromwell's Inothewayurthinkin, finishing six lengths adrift in second place.

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Only Kauto Star has previously regained the Gold Cup after his triumphs in 2007 and 2009. Should he achieve this feat, Galopin Des Champs would join the ranks of Arkle, L'Escargot and Best Mate as a three-time winner of the race.

Mullins' first-choice jockey could face a difficult choice after Gaelic Warrior finished eight and a half lengths clear of the third-placed Audrey Turley-owned star in the Irish Gold Cup earlier this month.

"Nothing is impossible, but it would be hard to get off Galopin Des Champs and I don't think he is finished yet," Townend said.

"I'm not saying I would get off him, but if I did and he came by me up the hill then I would say keep a wide berth on the plane ride home.

"He's got credit in the bank, which he deserves, and it would be ideal for me if they both didn't turn up and they are decisions you do have to give a lot of thought. That is just the competitiveness of it and every decision is taken seriously.

"It was a good race and I thought we went a good gallop and I thought Fact To File was very good on the day. Gaelic Warrior was very good while probably overracing for the tempo we were going at and I thought it rode a proper race."

When questioned about the significance of Galopin Des Champs returning to the winner's enclosure at the Cheltenham Festival.

"It would be right up there if Galopin regained the Gold Cup," he added.

"I'd love it for the horse more than anything and I'd never turn away another Gold Cup that's for sure. It would be (right up there), and he's with the right man to get him there in the best form.

"I thought there was a lot to like during the race, just the feel I was getting from him at Leopardstown on the last day and hopefully he can bring that again and I think he can, he's entitled to."

Mullins faces a dilemma with star mare Lossiemouth, whether to aim for a third consecutive Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle or take a shot at the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The Closutton stable came under fire last year as the Rich Ricci-owned seven year old cruised to victory against her own sex, whilst Golden Ace capitalised on falls from Constitution Hill and State Man to claim a shock victory in the latter race.

However, with State Man, who fell at the last under Townend, sidelined for the season and Nicky Henderson's hurdling superstar still showing inconsistency, the opportunity is there for Lossiemouth.

"I suppose this year is different in the way the Champion Hurdle is setting up," Townend said.

"I didn't think she could beat State Man last year and at the DRF (in 2024) I stuck with him.

"She does seem to come alive and you do get a better feel off her at Cheltenham than anywhere else, so I don't think it's impossible she could win a Champion Hurdle."

Another standout in the Mullins stable bound for Cheltenham is Kopek Des Bordes, who has been made second favourite for the Arkle despite having just one chase run under his belt.

"It's a worry going there with just one run, but he had enough runs as a hurdler and was there at Cheltenham as a hurdler as well which takes a bit of the worry out of it," the jockey said.

"Of course you'd love more experience into him, but I loved what he did at Punchestown the other day and had learned plenty from Navan.

"The owners are a great bunch who enjoy it so much and he's a horse of a lifetime for them.

"Charlie (McCarthy, owner) has been in racing a long time looking for one like him and he's going to enjoy it now he has one. He's an exciting horse and you'd rather have him than be taking him on."