Paul Townend shines yet again while Cork-owned Home by the Lee lands huge victory 

The two Grade One features at Leopardstown on Saturday provided major Cork-themed success. 

Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend added to his King George victory earlier in the week when he made all the running on the brilliant Galopin Des Champs in the €175,000 Grade One Savills Chase to regain his status as ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Just before, Drimoleague native Sean O'Driscoll enjoyed another memorable afternoon at the Foxrock venue with Home By The Lee. He staked a claim as a leading candidate for the Stayers Hurdle with a potent display in the €150,000 Grade One Savills Hurdle.

Townend and Galopin Des Champs landed a second consecutive Savills Chase. Galopin Des Champs, so impressive in this last year, had finished third behind Fact To File in the John Durkan Chase in November. 

However punters believed he could reverse that form back at three miles at his spiritual home where he's unbeaten over fences. He was all the rage in the market backed from 11/8 this morning into 5-6 on-course. He was sent straight to the front by Townend, tactics which probably serve him best. 

He was still in front at the third last but a stacking field saw seven of his eight rivals still within striking distance. Grand National winner I Am Maximus was pulled up down the back. His market rival Fact To File (13/8) made ground out wide and the two main protagonists quickly had the race between them. 

Galopin Des Champs quickened clear on the run to the line to comprehensively reverse the John Durkan form. Townend had seven and a half lengths to spare as he saluted the huge crowd.

Afterwards trainer Willie Mullins acknowledged that this is a very special horse. "He put in some fantastic jumps and to win the way he did after giving the other horse a lead the whole way was one of the best performances I have ever seen around here."

Strong praise indeed from the maestro of Closutton who'd had a few setbacks here yesterday but again underlined that form is temporary and class is permanent. Bookmakers were suitably impressed with Galopin Des Champs top-priced 6/4 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

It continues an incredible season for Paul Townend who earlier in the year created history by becoming only the second jockey to win the Holy Trinity Of NH Racing in one season, via Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, State Man in the Champion Hurdle and I Am Maximus in the Grand National. This week he has added the King George on Banbridge and the Savills on Galopin Des Champs to an already impressive portfolio of big race success. 

ICONIC

His ride on Banbridge in the King George is up there as one of the truly great rides in that iconic Kempton contest. His dashing front-running ride on Saturday emphasised what a brilliantly versatile jockey he is and he's now cemented his status as the very best jockey of the modern era.

Sean O'Driscoll's teak-tough staying hurdler Home By Lee regained his Savills Hurdle crown adding to a memorable Christmas for trainer Joseph O’Brien. Home By The Lee was successful in this race two years ago and arrived at the Foxrock venue buoyed by an impressive victory in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month.

Punters believed he could confirm that form with Bob Ollinger and he was a well-backed 15/8 favourite. That market confidence was justified as he powered clear under JJ Slevin to win by six lengths from Bob Olinger, who possibly doesn't quite fully see out three miles.

Drimoleague native O'Driscoll has Home By The Lee as a really strong candidate for the Stayers Hurdle in March, on the back of these emphatic victories at Navan and Leopardstown. He had a near miss at Cheltenham with Black Harry many years ago. He fell when challenging Wichita Lineman in the race now known as The Albert Bartlett. 

Home By The Lee burst on the scene winning on his debut in a Killarney Bumper for the all-conquering Joseph O'Brien yard. 

The Piltown operation has had a Christmas to remember. Saturday marked his third Grade One victory over the festive period.

Home By The Lee is now top-priced 10/1 for the Stayers Hurdle in March at Cheltenham. He's been somewhat unlucky in this race in the past but you sense 10/1 each way is an attractive proposition. 

Teahupoo will be hard to dethrone but Home By The Lee will look to keep him honest.