Willie Mullins has never won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but in Sir Des Champs he has a serious contender.

Sir Des Champs put down a Gold Cup marker for next year after maintaining his unbeaten record for Willie Mullins in the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.

Sir Des Champs maintained his unbeaten record for Willie Mullins with a clear-cut victory in the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

OUT of action with a broken collar-bone since March 26, Paul Townend returned in style when registering a double on odds-on favourites Rattan and Killultagh Queen at Ballinrobe last night where trainer Willie Mullins went on to complete a treble with Bless N’ject in the bumper.